College of Medicine Pandemic Response Friday Round-Up – Week of May 24-28

From left, Dr. Leslie Parent, vice dean for research and graduate studies; Dr. Terry Wolpaw, vice dean of educational affairs; Dr. Charles Lang, associate dean for graduate studies; and Dr. Neal Thomas, associate dean for clinical research.

College of Medicine leaders updated faculty, staff and students on May 28 about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

All College of Medicine Updates

Penn State Health, College of Medicine update U.S. business travel, gathering policies

Within the walls and on the grounds of all Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health facilities, policies and guidelines related to masking, social distancing and patient care protocols remain in place. Masks are still required, and physical distancing guidelines must be followed in all settings, including meetings and gatherings, indoors and outdoors.

Effective Monday, May 31, the following updates have been made to the Meeting, Training and Gathering and Travel, Quarantine and Isolation guidelines and policies:

• Penn State College of Medicine employees are required to follow Penn State travel, quarantine and isolation policies and guidelines. To use Penn State College of Medicine funds for travel, vaccination is required. Visit new guidance here.
• The optimal choice for meetings, training events and gatherings continues to be virtual.
• Internal meeting and gathering guidelines for the College of Medicine and Penn State Health have been updated to increase capacity but with masking and physical distancing guidance in place.

Read the full story.

Study sponsors and monitors

We encourage study teams to continue remote study sponsor and monitor visits for clinical trials or other human subject-related research. However, exceptions for in-person visits for site qualification, site initiation, study closeout, or monitoring, may now be allowable if permission is granted. Importantly, these visits must follow the College of Medicine and Penn State Health policies for vendors and require pre-approval before a visitor is allowed on campus. Note that there are required actions of both the monitors and the study team as described in the pre-approval intake form.

For more information and link to the online pre-approval form can be found here: med.psu.edu/coronavirus/vendors

Pitching in during the pandemic

As we enter this holiday weekend, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the great work we’ve done during the COVID-19 pandemic. We took something so devastating and did what we did best – innovate, adapt and inspire. Please take a moment to view the many stories from this past year that showcase the great work we have done as a College of Medicine.

Student Vaccination Efforts:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjRpkChGj3o

Innovation/MASC team:

• Penn State Health, College of Medicine collaborate with College of Engineering on disposable stethoscopes
• College of Medicine fast-tracks innovative answers to supply demand
• College of Medicine student uses 3D printers to create masks for homeless people

Faculty/staff/student wellness:

• Color me happier: Creative care on tap with faculty art therapy program
• College of Medicine students boost nursing students’ spirits during isolation
• Student, faculty creative writing published by AAMC

Research/Patient Care:

• Hershey Medical Center joins global clinical trial evaluating antiviral drug remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19
• Penn State researchers collaborate to distribute COVID-19 survey globally
• Penn State College of Medicine joins global research efforts against COVID-19
• Remdesivir trial at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center shows promise, adds second therapy to protocol
• Residents of some cities unwilling to comply with COVID-19 prevention behaviors
• Certain pre-existing conditions can double, triple mortality risk for COVID-19 patients
• Mouthwashes, oral rinses may inactivate human coronaviruses
• College of Medicine receives $2.69 million to address COVID-19 health disparities
• Pandemic stress, boredom caused some PA residents to increase cigarette use
• Clinical trial completion rates decline during COVID-19 pandemic
• U.S. adults who view TV and social media as trustworthy sources of news on COVID-19 are less informed about the pandemic
• People living with HIV more likely to get sick with, die from COVID-19
• Penn State PRO Wellness researchers identify school staff concerns in reopening safely during pandemic
• Central PA residents had high knowledge, worries of information overload early in pandemic
• Decreased testing could lead to surge in sexually transmitted infections
• Penn State Health receives nearly $23 million to mitigate, respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities
• Penn State Health, College of Medicine team develops protocols for managing newborns exposed to mothers with COVID-19
• Penn State Health hospitals now using plasma from recovered patients as possible treatment for COVID-19
• Zgierska investigates how pandemic affects pregnant and postpartum women
• College of Medicine faculty member helps develop new online course for middle, high school students on ‘The Science of COVID’
• High blood pressure medications may lower risk of dying from COVID-19
• Careful planning may reduce COVID-19 risks for elective cancer surgery patients
• Penn State part of national collaboration gathering big data to accelerate COVID-19 fight
• Patients find new “friends” in virtual connections with students

Education:

• Public health preparedness course offers students ability to learn about COVID-19 vaccine science in real time
• MD students join Penn State Dickinson Law students for COVID-19 co-learning exercise
• Contact Tracing Task Force works to limit the spread of COVID-19
• Medical students support community, health system amid pandemic
• Project ECHO unites providers to serve vulnerable communities amid pandemic
• Classroom flip: Penn State College of Medicine students become teachers of elementary students
• Penn State students’ COVID-19 vaccination plan earns fourth place in global health competition
• A dose of experience: College of Medicine students play vital roles in Penn State Health vaccination efforts
• Hope on the horizon: student-led vigil and memorial starts journey of healing
• College of Medicine students learn disaster preparedness through COVID-19 testimonies

If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email Penn State Health Marketing & Communications.