Thank you both for coordinating this. The message I sent last evening to our students along with a link to our periodically updated health system synopsis for COVID-19 (that is also on our ID Divisional site:
http://www.einstein.yu.edu/uploadedFiles/departments/medicine/Divisions/infectious-diseases/resources/Coronavirus%20Summary.pdf) is below.
Dear Students,
We have been closely following the evolution of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; see summary attached) and our leadership has begun planning the Einstein response to this novel infection. First, we want to acknowledge that this is a fluid situation, so we expect to provide frequent updates and changes to our recommendations and requirements over the next few weeks. We appreciate that this uncertainty can be stressful and want you to know that we are available to address any concerns you may have. Your health and safety are our priority.
As a precaution for first- and second-year students, - we have made the difficult decision out of an overabundance of caution to limit your clinical exposures. Therefore, today, our first-year students will complete their final ICM Clinical Experience visit. As for second-year students, since faculty oversee your ICM clinical visits closely, we will monitor the situation to decide on your final three site visits. Finally, for all Y1 and Y2 students, we are requesting that you cease engagements with shadowing and other clinical activities for the time being.
We also are closely monitoring summer global health opportunities that first-year students may be planning and will keep you informed as this process evolves. For any upcoming planned international electives, there are travel advisories from the CDC regarding specific countries. The list of locations is likely to expand and we will make recommendations on a case-by-case basis about continuing with outside electives (either abroad or in the U.S.).
We strongly believe that students in Y3 and Y4 of the curriculum (clinical curriculum) have an ongoing obligation for the care of our patients and community. Einstein students have been involved in caring for patients with infectious diseases since the inception of the school, including patients with an unknown immunodeficiency disease that became known as HIV/AIDS, epidemic influenza, tuberculosis, and more.
Our hospitals all have carefully crafted protocols in place for screening of individuals for COVID-19, and our students are not first line in this process. Hence, your training in infection prevention and use of protective personal equipment along with supervision by house staff and faculty should effectively mitigate risk of COVID-19. Therefore, we expect our third- and fourth-year students to continue to report to their assigned sites.
Because our students also take responsibility for the operations of ECHO, we have been in contact with Dr. Cortijo and will continue to monitor the clinical operations. For the present, our first- and second-year students can participate, but only in non-patient interactions. Our senior students can continue to engage in care under the oversight of ECHO faculty.
All students who develop flu-like (cold) symptoms (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath) should not attend classes or engage in clinical work. We will continue to share information as it becomes available. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us directly.
Sincerely,
Josh Nosanchuk, MD Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education
Stephen Baum, MD Senior Advisor for Student Affairs
Todd Cassese, MD Assistant Dean for Clinical Sciences
Allison Ludwig, MD Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Mimoza Meholli, MD Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Pablo Joo, MD Associate Dean for Medical Education and Curricular Affairs
Howard Steinman, PhD Assistant Dean for Biomedical Science Education
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Joshua Nosanchuk
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education
ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-02-2020 20:49
From: Lyuba Konopasek
Subject: COVID-19 Prep Call
Hi All,
Judy Rowen and I set up a call for Thursday, March 5th, at 5PM EST. We hope you'll join us to discuss preparations related to COVID-19 from the view point of med school administration. What are your plans for your clerkship students? What about students returning from global health experiences? What are you doing to educate your learners about COVID-19? Any other questions on your mind? If you can't join, I'll take notes and post back to the forum.
The Zoom/call-in is below.
Best, Lyuba
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Lyuba KonopasekLyuba.konopasek@quinnipiac.edu
917-941-7429
Senior Associate Dean for Education
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac
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