As we close the book on 2020, I’m exceptionally grateful for the way our college community has worked tirelessly to overcome each and every challenge that has come our way. Our faculty, staff and students have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our values, missions and, perhaps most importantly, to each other.

When COVID-19 hit our region, every day I heard incredible stories about our College of Medicine family reaching out to help each other during a time of uncertainty. Students taught faculty how to better use technology for remote learning. Our clinical faculty shared knowledge regarding the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with community leaders and health care providers, including nursing home administrators, across Pennsylvania and beyond. Our researchers evaluated new treatments, addressed PPE needs, investigated potential vaccines and sought answers to critical public health questions.
Students tutored employees’ children, raised funds to support community businesses, helped with contact tracing efforts and ran errands for classmates who were quarantined.
Hundreds of people across the university played a role in the herculean effort to create and execute our COVID-19 screening and testing processes.

I was equally grateful when, following the brutal death of George Floyd, members of our College of Medicine community courageously shared their own painful experiences of racism and bias. Those conversations led to a deeper awareness of institutional racism within our college, followed by a deeper commitment to improve our culture for all whose lives we touch.  Much change is already underway because so many people spoke up, listened, cared and joined the call for action.

It’s been a long and challenging year, but I could not be more thankful for and proud of how our college responded. Thank you. I wish all of you a safe and joyous holiday season.

-- Dr. Kevin P. Black, interim dean, Penn State College of Medicine