As a father, health care leader, professor, provider, researcher, and an alum of this great university, I continue to join in your grief and am forever changed by the past two weeks. Our support is with the family and loved ones of those lost and critically injured. I pray for healing,and the persistence and strength of the health care professionals who continue to care for our students.
Since the tragedy, we have activated the entire university to care for our students, faculty, staff,and community members in the East Lansing area and at campuses across the state. I am grateful to the many individuals who rose to help, including our faculty and staff, academic and clinical leaders, and providers. Many have checked in with students nearly every day and have provided individualized support.
Spartans are leaders in the care that has been given during this time, and I am especially proud of our Sparrow Hospital partners and the excellence they displayed during this crisis.This includes Dr. Denny Martin, Sparrow’s Chief Medical Officer, anda graduate of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, who led the trauma response and kept us informed on the condition of our students. I am also told all the nurse anesthetists in the operating room that night are graduates of our College of Nursing.
After the physical harm was tended to, our Department of Psychiatry faculty mobilized to set up campus and community mental health services in partnership with Counseling and Psychiatric Services and Employee Assistance Program. Dr. Jed Magen led the activation of a united effort from Hawaii with the help of Dr. Ruth Baer and their teams. This also included providing trauma-informed support in our pediatric offices for our young patients. Thanks to swift, collective work, we are now able to offer free, weekday walk-in counseling to anyone that needs it through MSU Health Care Psychiatry Clinic.
I would also like to recognize Dr. Jeff Kovan, head of student athlete health,and his team. They have been leading an effort focused on the health and wellbeing of our student athletes so they may process their own trauma and decide when it is right for them to get back to practice or competition.
Our faculty continues to use their talents to help bring comfort to our community. Zakia Alavi, an associate professor of psychiatry in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development in the College of Human Medicine, discussed in this piece how to help manage the trauma as we returned to classes.
Spartans understand the effort that goes into making today and tomorrow better. Universities exist to take on society's biggest challenges. We know that firearm violence in the U.S. is an unrelenting clinical, public health and societal concern. The expertise of our researchers, providers and students positions us to provide solutions for our communities.This event will not define us, but it will inform ourwork in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.
At the heart of being a Spartan is the determination to leave our community – and the world – a better place. Sustainable health is only possible when we prioritize our children, family, neighbors, and those we serve.
We recognize that healing is a personal journey. Having others to support you can make a significant difference. Being together was a critical first step and we are here to walk with you. Please continue to have this link on hand for a full guide to resources.Thank you for your compassion, support, and grace as we journey toward healing, together.
In Peace,
Norman J. Beauchamp, Jr. MD, MHS
Executive Vice President for Health Sciences