Dear UCSF Community,
We denounce the latest attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across multiple states in the United States. Today, the Florida House of Representatives passed the “Don't Say Gay” bill (HB 1557/SB 1834). If signed into law, it would limit classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity and undermine existing protections for LGBTQ+ children in schools. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott released a letter instructing state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender youths as child abuse.
At UCSF, we unequivocally support our LGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, trainees, and patients. We reaffirm our commitment to the existence, freedom, and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals everywhere. We see you, we value you, and we recognize your outstanding contributions to our campus and the world. UCSF stands with you as we continue to fight for equity and justice for all.
For those seeking information, services, and support for the LGBTQ+ community, we encourage you to visit the UCSF LGBT Resource Center and Transgender and Gender Expansive Resources websites.
Sincerely,
Renee Navarro, PharmD, MD
Vice Chancellor
Chief Diversity and Outreach Officer
Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care
Daniel H. Lowenstein, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Dr. Robert B. and Mrs. Ellinor Aird Professor of Neurology
Dear UCSF Community,
The news overnight that Russia has invaded Ukraine is very upsetting. Many at UCSF and in the Bay Area community have loved ones who live in Europe, including in the region now marked by violence. Let us all hope for the safety and welfare of those in harm’s way, and provide comfort to anyone who needs it.
Witnessing what is unfolding in Eastern Europe is difficult, especially at a time when communities all over the world have been worn down by the pandemic. If you or someone you know needs support, I encourage you to seek the counseling and assistance of our UCSF resource teams:
- Student Health & Counseling: (415) 476-1281
- Faculty and Staff Assistance Program: (415) 476-8279
In the coming days and weeks, let us pursue peace and look out for one another, with a focus on the most vulnerable among us. As too often happens, it is the disadvantaged who will face the most severe impacts, including economic disruptions that may soon follow. For everyone in our UCSF community, especially those who have family and friends in the region, I want you to know we are here to support you.
Sincerely,
Sam Hawgood, MBBS
Chancellor
Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor
Dear UCSF Community,
The significant and continuing decline of Omicron cases in the Bay Area and the UCSF community’s high vaccination rates set the stage for us to increase the number of UCSF staff, faculty, and learners working on-site, effective March 1, 2022.
On-site and Telework Policy
With our expanded knowledge of COVID-19, including protocols for keeping patients and our communities safe, I have asked each Cabinet leader to determine the on-site and telework policy for their respective organizations. Their focus will be on developing the best combination of on-site and telework arrangements that will enable their organizations to serve the UCSF mission. Your supervisor will discuss your specific situation with you based on your job responsibilities and establish, as appropriate, new telework agreements that will go into effect on March 1.
Cautious Optimism
As we mark two years since UCSF saw its first COVID-19 patients, there is reason for cautious optimism. We are in a far better situation than we were in August last year when we delayed a return to on-site work due to changing circumstances. Today, 94% of our community has been fully vaccinated with a booster. We expect this number to improve as more people become booster eligible. In addition, the Omicron variant is subsiding quickly in the Bay Area, as it has in other parts of the world.
We have learned a great deal about COVID-19. We have learned new routines for our lives, including ways of serving our public mission while balancing the trade-offs of having some of us work remotely. All the while, others continued to work on site serving our patients and the communities that depend on us...