Thank you to the COVID-19 Health Team!

Dear Colleagues,

We have reached an important milestone in our three-year response to COVID-19. With the end of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 on May 11 and the resulting change from emergency response to our routine protocols for infectious disease education, prevention, and response, we have now ended our online reporting. The COVID-19 subgroup Health Team that has led our response holds its last regular meeting this week. We know that COVID-19 will remain a part of our community, and we will be ready to implement safety measures as needed in the future. But this is, indeed, a significant moment, and it is an occasion to reflect on and express gratitude for the incredible work of so many members of our community.

To say the last three years have been challenging is certainly an understatement. The Health Team worked diligently throughout the pandemic to keep our community safe and informed and to minimize the impact of the pandemic on our community members and our educational experience. This has been an enormous lift for everyone, and I am grateful to you all for your collective efforts.

Today, I extend my sincere gratitude to all members of the Health Team: Vic Madrid, Bruce Herman, Damian Doyle, Kim Leisey, Marie Lilly, Samantha Smith, Lucy Wilson, and, of course, Nancy Young. And an extra thanks to the COVID-19 Planning and Coordinating Committee (CPCC), led by Provost Philip Rous and Vice President for Information Technology and CIO Jack Suess, and the members of the other subcommittees who contributed so greatly to this effort. 

On behalf of the entire UMBC community, thank you for your tireless dedication and care for our community.

Sincerely,