Dear UCSF Community,
On Monday, a gunman took the lives of 10 people in a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket in yet another episode of gun violence. I write to you, once again, grieving over the senseless loss of life and with a growing frustration over the political gridlock that perpetuates this public health crisis.
The tragedy in Boulder marks the seventh mass casualty shooting in seven days in our country. In Colorado, Oregon, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, gun violence has taken and changed lives forever. In these and too many past incidents, people have used guns to injure and kill, often targeting others for their beliefs, identities, and race. It is difficult to accept this spate of violence when we are still mourning the deaths of those murdered just one week ago in Atlanta, including six women of Asian descent.
As an organization dedicated to advancing health, we must do more than grieve. I encourage you to educate yourself about the unchecked threat of gun violence. We must urge our elected officials to pass legislation that puts the health and lives of all those in our country ahead of political affiliation and partisanship. To learn more about gun reform efforts, I encourage you to explore the work of the following organizations, which are but a few of the groups working at the federal and state level:
Dear UCSF Community:
The murder of eight people, including six Asian women, in Atlanta has shocked communities across the country. These killings come at a time when attacks and harassment against Asian and Asian American people are escalating. Whatever the motivations of the person in custody, it is difficult to view this tragedy except through the lens of a legacy of hate and discrimination that people of Asian descent have faced for generations.
The recent increase in anti-Asian sentiment can be traced to those who wrongly racialize the COVID-19 pandemic and target people of Asian descent as scapegoats. The horrific shootings of the Asian women at their places of employment not only raise the stakes of this rising tide of racism, they expose a knotted history of discrimination, immigration, and gender inequity. At a time of a renewed reckoning on race and systemic racism, we must acknowledge this overlooked history and make visible what many do not see.
Our thoughts are with the families of all the victims and we grieve with those who have been affected by this crime. We must denounce and confront hate in all of its forms, including acts and speech motivated by race, gender, belief, and background.
The increase in attacks on Asians and Asian Americans has compounded the grief and sorrow of an already challenging year for many in our community. For all those who need assistance, I encourage you to seek the counseling and support of our UCSF resource teams:
- Student Health & Counseling
(415) 476-1281 - ...
Dear UCSF Community,
One year has passed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, but we are writing today to recognize another significant milestone in the effort to bring this public health crisis to an end.
Today, UCSF administered its 100,000th vaccine dose. Our vaccine rollout accounts for nearly a third of all doses administered in San Francisco, more than any other vaccine provider in the city. We want to thank our vaccine planning team and vaccine site volunteers for making this possible, and we hope you will join us in celebrating this achievement.
While we still have some distance to go before declaring an end to the pandemic, our society is at a hopeful turning point.
There are now three vaccines authorized for use in the United States, all of which are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. The CDC has also issued interim recommendations for individuals who are fully vaccinated. Though these recommendations do not apply in health care settings, including UCSF Health facilities, they offer reassuring guidance from federal officials that we are on the path to recovery.
We will review the new CDC guidance to determine what changes we will make to campus-wide COVID-19 policies. For now, we ask that everyone in the UCSF community at all of our locations — regardless of vaccination status — continue to mask, physically distance, wash hands regularly, and take all necessary precautions to keep our colleagues and patients safe.
While our fight against COVID-19 has not yet ended, this...
Dear UCSF Community,
The UC Office of the President (UCOP) issued the Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Interim Policy on July 24, 2020 to clarify the process by which all UC campuses will implement the Federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and California NAGPRA (CalNAGPRA). NAGPRA protects Native American graves and requires repatriation of Native American human remains and certain cultural items. Repatriation is the process of returning Native American ancestral human remains and certain cultural items to their indigenous communities. UCSF is fully committed to the goal of repatriation as well as implementation of this policy and relevant laws. The Interim Policy substantially revised the previous policy to promote the repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items, and to increase accountability and transparency across all UC campuses.
I write to raise awareness of new policy requirements, affirm the University’s commitment to the guiding principles and procedures, provide mechanisms to report if you believe you or others may hold Native American or Native Hawaiian human remains or cultural items, and enlist your assistance ensuring full compliance with this important human rights policy. In particular, I want to draw your attention to the following significant elements of the new policy, which:
- Articulates principles that the repatriation...
Dear UCSF Community,
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020, I am reflecting on the toll this disease has taken, the incredible rallying response of the UCSF community, and how the events of the past year will shape our future.
In recognition of this historic milestone, UCSF is hosting COVID-19: The Path Forward, a three-part series of panel discussions—on March 9, 16, and 23—that will address the lessons we have learned as scientists, health care providers, and public health experts. Panelists will discuss the science behind the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on our most vulnerable communities, and what a post-pandemic world might look like.
As we foster a guarded optimism that 2021 will bring brighter days, we cannot forget that the number of U.S. lives lost to the pandemic tragically surpassed 500,000 a week ago. COVID-19 remains a serious threat to public health. However, as new cases continue to decline, cities open schools and businesses, and more people are vaccinated, we can begin to envision life after the pandemic.
I hope you will join me for these special panel discussions, which are open to the broader public. These conversations, which will be recorded and may be viewed at a later time, will help guide our communities toward a better understanding of the challenges we face as we emerge from the pandemic’s grip. They also reflect the year-long contributions UCSF has made to public health, a reminder of our responsibility and privilege to serve our patients and...