Welcome to the first edition of spectRUm for 2021. I’d like to start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Every year at this time we are filled with optimism as the New Year offers a fresh start, with new resolutions, goals and opportunities. While last year didn’t happen the way all of us had expected, the approval, production and distribution of vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic offer a renewed sense of hope. I share in this hope and I’m confident that our communities will emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.
The vaccination efforts taking place in our communities are part of one of our nation’s largest public health endeavors ever. As with any effort of its size and scope, it is not without setbacks as public health agencies work through logistical challenges of offering vaccines large groups of the public safely and efficiently.
Last month, just nine days into the New Year, Roseman University joined the effort to vaccinate Southern Nevadans. Student, faculty and staff volunteers have donated thousands of hours at not only clinics organized by the Southern Nevada Health District and area hospitals, but at Saturday Roseman University Point of Dispensary (POD) events at our Henderson and Summerlin campuses. These campus PODs have vaccinated nearly 2,000 people who qualify under the State of Nevada’s COVID-19 Playbook. I’m extremely proud of the dedication of our Roseman family that have sacrificed time with their families to devote their time and talents to help with these efforts. You can read more and see some pictures in recent media coverage of Roseman PODs in this edition’s “Roseman In the News.”
While our campuses in Nevada are busy vaccinating people, our South Jordan, Utah campus is working to join the effort as well. Administration from the colleges and service units are readying the facilities and creating vaccination POD plans based on information learned from our Nevada campuses. They hope to be up and running in the coming weeks.
Along with the Roseman vaccination PODs, the work of educating future nurses, pharmacists, dentists, orthodontists, and health care business professionals continues on our campuses, and in some cases, virtually. Late last month, we welcomed new cohorts of students into our College of Nursing Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at the Henderson and South Jordan campuses. Later this month, our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Class of 2021 from both campuses will be graduating and ready to take the NCLEX exam and enter the nursing workforce at time when our communities need them most. I wish them all the best as they enter the nursing profession.
Finally, I’d like to invite you to join our February 18 virtual Neighborhood Health Series event, “The Stories Your DNA Tells About You: From Your Ancestry to How You Might Respond to A Medication.” Presented by Dr. David Rawlins, this topic is truly fascinating. It takes place from 5:30 to 7 pm PST. Visit speakers.roseman.edu to register.
Wishing you a safe and healthy February.
Sincerely,
Dr. Renee Coffman
President & Co-Founder
Roseman University of Health Sciences