Dear UCSF Community,

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria early Monday morning has taken at least 3,500 lives and has left many thousands more injured and without shelter. While search and rescue efforts are underway, the scale of this massive disaster may not be known for days or even weeks. We do know that many people across the region need immediate assistance. They have been left homeless and face near-freezing temperatures.

Our thoughts are with those affected by the earthquake and those in our UCSF community who have family and friends in the region. If you have the means, I encourage you to help by donating to one of the organizations working to provide relief on the ground. They include:

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the world’s largest humanitarian network
• Turkish Philanthropy Funds, which will provide survivors with food, water, shelter, and medicine
• Project Hope, a global health and humanitarian relief organization addressing public health challenges

As we have before, let’s work together as a community to ease the suffering of the survivors in this widespread disaster and contribute what we can to help those in greatest need.

Sincerely,

Sam Hawgood, MBBS

Chancellor

Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Distinguished Professor