New York Medical College and Touro College & University System Host Educational Event On Coronavirus
Health Care Leaders, Elected Officials and Media Learned About the Global Threat of the Infectious Disease with More Than 17,000 Confirmed Cases
Jennifer Riekert, M.B.A.
Vice President of Communications and Strategic Initiatives
New York Medical College
(914) 594-4552
jennifer_riekert@nymc.edu
New York, New York – The global impact of the coronavirus is growing exponentially. Only a week ago, there were 800 confirmed cases, but that number has already grown to more than 17,000. Facing a global heath epidemic, medical leadership from New York Medical College (NYMC) and the Touro College & University System hosted an event, “Coronavirus: What We Know, What We Don’t Know, What You Need to Know,” to educate clinical healthcare professionals, healthcare administrators, public health professionals, elected officials and the media about the coronavirus.
The event focused on basic knowledge and origins of the virus, transmission, symptoms and how to manage infectious disease outbreaks so attendees are better equipped to educate and prepare their communities.
“The best way to avoid catching a viral disease like the novel coronavirus is to avoid being in contact with someone who is infected,” said Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer of New York Medical College. “The best way to avoid spreading a viral disease like coronavirus, if you think you have one, is to stay home until you are well. If you decide to go to a doctor’s office or clinic or hospital, call ahead to tell them why you are coming so that they can taking proper precautions when you arrive.”
“The current outbreak is caused by a novel coronavirus that probably was spread from animals to humans sometime last year. The mortality rate is two to three percent which, while significant, is less than other outbreaks. The incubation period can last up to two weeks and it appears that people can be Infectious before they develop symptoms,” said Alan Kadish, M.D., president of the Touro College and University System. “Vigilance and the measures described above are appropriate but overreaction and panic is not.”
“This is still an evolving and emerging situation,” said Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College. “Last week there were 800 confirmed cases and by Friday morning nearly 10,000 confirmed cases.”
Speakers and topics included:
- Alan Kadish, M.D., President of the Touro College & University System – An introduction to Touro College & University System and NYMC
- Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice, NYMC, former Regional Health Administrator, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and former Medical Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – An introduction to the public health management of infectious disease outbreaks from respiratory viruses
- Chandra Shekar Bakshi, D.V.M., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, NYMC – An introduction to the basic science of the coronaviruses
- Marisa Montecalvo, M.D., Infectious disease specialist – What we know and what we will need to know about the clinical management of human coronavirus infection
- Mark Levine New York City Councilman, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Health – The risk for New Yorkers and importance of communicating accurate information
- Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., Chancellor/CEO of NYMC – Clio and the response to infectious disease: What can medical history teach us about the present problem?
- Mary Foote, M.D., Senior Medical Coordinator for Communicable Disease Preparedness at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – How the public Health Organizations are responding
- Sherlita Amler, M.D., M.S., adjunct professor of public health at NYMC and Commissioner of Health, Westchester County, New York – Novel coronavirus: public health response and prevention guidelines
Photo from left: Robert W. Amler, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice; Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer; Alan Kadish, M.D., president of the Touro College and University System; Mary Foote, M.D., senior medical coordinator for communicable disease preparedness at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Chandra Shekar Bakshi, D.V.M., Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology; Marisa Montecalvo, M.D., professor of medicine and director for health services; and Sherlita Amler, M.D., M.S., adjunct professor of public health and commissioner of health, Westchester County.
New York Medical College
Founded in 1860, New York Medical College (NYMC) is one of the oldest and largest health sciences colleges in the country with nearly 1,500 students and 330 residents and clinical fellows, more than 2,600 faculty members and 23,500 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and Practice, the Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC and the Touro College School of Health Sciences’ nursing program at NYMC. NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities for students, residents, and practitioners.
The Touro College and University System
Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,200 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has 30 campuses and locations in New York, California, Nevada, Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College; Touro University California and Touro University Nevada; Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division; as well as Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Ill. are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: www.touro.edu/news.