Dear UCSF Community,
As the humanitarian crisis worsens in Afghanistan, UCSF is working to bring Afghan scholars to our campus to support their education in the health sciences. I am pleased to share with you that we have identified two scholars and are now coordinating with other groups to secure their safe passage out of Afghanistan.
Two Afghan Scholars Admitted to UCSF Programs
The first scholar is a physician with a master’s degree in public health who has earned one of the competitive slots in the PhD program in Global Health Sciences. Their research interests involve strengthening health systems and improving health for women and minority populations. The second scholar has been admitted to the master’s degree program in Global Health Sciences. This scholar graduated from a medical university in Afghanistan and has a research focus on reproductive health for women in Afghanistan.
We are hopeful that we will be successful in helping these scholars safely leave Afghanistan and arrive at UCSF. As we launch this program, we are coordinating with the national Scholars at Risk Network, including the UC-wide chapter, to identify other Afghan scholars whose skills and academic interests may be served by UCSF’s unique focus on the health sciences.
How to Support the Afghan Scholars Program
I am proud of the efforts of so many at UCSF working to bring over Afghan scholars at risk. The UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences and the UCSF Health and Human Rights Initiative have made preparations to accommodate Afghan scholars at UCSF, train them, and support their time with us. UCSF also is working with local and legal organizations to provide additional...
Dear UCSF Community,
In recognition of the need to brighten our spirits and encourage wellness as we continue to face myriad challenges, I am delighted to announce that we are offering grants for projects that aim to promote the wellbeing of our UCSF community.
From September 13 to September 30, 2021, UCSF academic and staff employees and learners, based at campus or affiliate locations, may apply for funds for events or initiatives that aim to support our wellbeing in one or more of our pillars of wellness: emotional, physical, social, financial, professional, environmental, and spiritual.
This program is being led by a recently formed UCSF Wellbeing Committee, which includes faculty and staff representatives from across the campus and UCSF Health. The committee, guided by staff in Wellness and Community, a division of Campus Life Services, will review the proposals and base its funding decisions on the proposed impact of the projects.
For information on how to apply for these wellbeing grants, please see the Wellness and Community web page. Read more about this opportunity online. Questions about the grants may be emailed to [email protected].
As the executive sponsor of this program, I hope that it will have a positive effect on our lives during a time when we could all benefit from a boost in morale. Please think creatively on ways you can...
Dear UCSF Community,
Please join us in expressing gratitude to our veterans who served in Afghanistan and the Middle East for their courage and sacrifices that spanned four U.S. presidents over 20 years.
The departure of the last U.S. plane from Afghanistan on Monday marked the coda to a very long war. However, it may take more time before many people find closure. In the midst of the U.S. transition, we recognize that complicated feelings and questions have been raised about American involvement in Afghanistan. For those who have family or friends still in the country, the events of the past few weeks, including a bombing that took the lives of civilians and U.S. troops, are even more difficult to bear.
Chancellor Sam Hawgood recently shared resources for those who want to support the humanitarian relief effort in Afghanistan. In addition, Student Veteran and Military Support Services has compiled a list of resources for veterans who may need support at this challenging time. We provide both sets of resources below and encourage everyone to review and make use of them.
As we make sense of what comes next in Afghanistan, we want our veterans to know that UCSF is here to support you. We are proud of you and your family members who have been there in support of your service to our country. You are all an important part of the diversity that strengthens our UCSF community.
Sincerely,
Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, MAS
Chief of Staff, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Associate Dean, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
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