First Week of Online Training: Week of March 16th, 2020

Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends,

Since this is our first official day of online training I wanted to touch base with all of you. Even before the original announcement was made last week, our faculty and staff have been preparing for such a shift in operations. Some programs have had a great deal of experience doing this while others have had to get up to speed quickly. I want to take this opportunity to thank our faculty and staff for stepping up to accommodate our students during this public health emergency. 

Over the weekend, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with several other college and university presidents, healthcare leaders, government officials, and have done additional research on my own. We are all in lock-step agreement that the best way to “flatten the curve” and slow down the spread of the disease is through “social distancing”. While there appears to be some variability in the media in how that’s defined, the CDC recommends maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others when you are together. Just remember, the virus, which is transmitted through respiratory droplets and personal touch, is always looking for a new home and our goal is to assure that it doesn’t’ find one! For you public health junkies, the presidential declaration of today’s national emergency is authorized under The Stafford Act of 1988, which stems from the Disaster Relief Act of 1974. It’s designed to put systems in place that facilitate intergovernmental coordination in the event of a natural disaster or public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act provides federal funds and other authorities that allow state and local officials to deal with emergencies. 

Historically, there have been several times where Americans have had to make interim sacrifices for long periods of time, such as during World War II and following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but we do find a way to get through these. This pandemic will be no different. Many very bright people are working on both a vaccine and potential drugs to treat this virus. Even so, it’s going to be a while before they are vetted through the appropriate quality and safety processes. Once that’s completed, they still will need to be manufactured in bulk. This all will all take some time. In the meantime, we need to remain vigilant to curb the spread of the disease. 

I want to assure you that we are continuing to work on contingency plans for graduation. The CDC’s most recent guideline that recommends for the next eight weeks in-person gatherings of more than 50 people be cancelled or postponed, pretty much precludes us from holding a large commencement ceremony in May.

As we move through all this, I ask you to remain flexible and observant. Your safety, health and overall welfare is paramount to all of us at Salus. Take some time to check up on each other to ensure your classmates and colleagues are doing well. As we get new information (and things will change frequently, I suspect) we will pass it along via email our website and social media platforms. 

The majority of you have made the determination to become healthcare professionals. Your friends, families and acquaintances will be looking to you for advice and information. Please continue to remain calm, routinely check the Salus and CDC websites for the most current information and guidance and stay focused on your studies. We’ll get through this together. If anyone needs to talk with any of our counselors, they are available virtually. Contact information can be obtained here. 

Remember, we’re SALUS STRONG – there is no other group I’d rather be associated with as we navigate these uncharted waters. We will get through this together!

MHM