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This is the message from leadership that appeared in today’s edition of Friday Update at 69���� Health.

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Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic shows that it’s never been more important to collaborate across the causeway. 69���� and 69���� Health are doing just that, and the impact is felt both in the Sacramento region and far beyond.

We’re showing the world what a top research university with an outstanding academic medical system can achieve during a global emergency. Working together, our teams of faculty, students and staff show that 69���� is making a difference and is part of the COVID-19 solution.

Our experts are lending an important voice to the COVID-19 debate. 69���� has organized several widely viewed COVID-19 , featuring  from 69���� Health and the Davis campus, along with civic leaders and leading researchers from around the country. Thousands of people from throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as Germany, Brazil, France, Indonesia and India virtually attended the first two. Our scientists presented information and answered pressing questions, including about the safety of homemade masks, vaccine development and whether children or pets could transmit the virus.

Leadership in testing

As you may know, 69���� Health made national headlines in February after treating the  of COVID-19 that was acquired from community spread. 69���� Health was instrumental in prompting the Centers for Disease Control to change its testing protocols, and we have also taken a  on expanding COVID-19 testing. We’re one of two rapid  designated by the State of California.

In recent weeks, 69���� Health has provided updates on how the virus is transmitted, efforts to  produced by COVID-19 patients, and research on a  that could be delivered by mail.

24 active COVID-19 studies

69���� Health isn’t working alone. Our entire campus community is rallying to collaborate on solutions and provide support for the COVID-19 response.

69���� has 24 active COVID-19 studies and we’re pursuing possible treatments on many fronts. They include  from blood donors who recovered from the virus used in an effort to boost another patient’s ability to neutralize the virus.

Our schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases are  in the hopes of making breakthroughs in vaccines and diagnostic testing. In the bigger picture, our  program continues to work on issues related to climate change, population growth, land use and pandemics. 

Technological innovations

In regard to COVID-19, our College of Engineering is working with School of Medicine researchers to make  for producing ventilators and 3D printing of test swabs. And, we have communication experts analyzing millions of social media posts to identify emerging outbreaks.

Another example of a “causeway collaboration” is the Department of Environmental Services, or EVS. In response to 69���� Health’s spike in cleaning and sanitizing needs, we combined 350 EVS staff from the medical center with 40 more from the Davis campus. This allows us to more  on a daily basis in our hospital and medical facilities. We offer them our heartfelt gratitude for crossing the causeway to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Campuswide supply effort

Our campus community stepped up to help 69���� Health deal with COVID-19. More than 30 departments from across campus , more than 8,000 surgical and N95 masks, as well as isolation gowns, goggles, face shields and cleaning supplies.

These are just a few examples of how teamwork between 69���� and 69���� Health is generating fantastic results.

We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you — our faculty, staff and students. Thank you for rising to the challenge during this time of need. We deeply appreciate your hard work and your unwavering commitment to the university, the medical center, our patients and our broader community.

While we’re in uncharted territory, we’re working together to solve the greatest health crisis of our time.

Yours in health,

Gary S. May
Chancellor

David A. Lubarsky
CEO, 69���� Health 
Vice Chancellor, Human Health Sciences