COHP COVID-19 Update: June 4, 2020

Like many of you, I have watched the nation's events unfold with much sadness. The problems are not new, and solutions have been slow to developed. The responses, violence and outcomes have been compounded and heightened with the frustration and backdrop of the Pandemic, but the frustration was there before the Pandemic.  With a senseless loss of life, and the constant stream of news reports overflowing with seemingly endless messages of hopelessness, anger and despair, I was impressed with the need to encourage us all to lift our voices, and to be engaged in solutions. This prompted me to pause this morning and to email our College community.  

It certainly has been difficult, but this is not a new problem. While seemingly all of our attention has been funneled into a COVID-19 response,  it is also appropriate to step back and reflect on other issues including social divides that impact our communities, nation and world. Indeed, worldwide voices can bring new awareness that we still have much work to do.

As you reflect on your role in our College and the wider UTHSC academic community, state and nation, I want to challenge each of us in the College to be a model of what can be and what should be. This is a time to look for common goals and ways in which we can come together and not be driven apart. After the planning is complete, consider your involvement in the “Community Engaged Care” initiative which we hope will bring the UTHSC campus together. Our College can be part of the solution and the healing. We all understand there are problems, but we need to focus on identifying meaningful solutions. With our peaceful but firm voices, actions, and resolve, our future can be shaped to one of compassion and better understanding in our communities, our state and our nation.

Respectfully,

Stephen E. Alway, PhD., FACSM
Dean, College of Health Professions