PURPOSE: August 2021: Welcome

Dr. Clay Marsh, Vice President and Executive Dean of WVU Health Sciences, welcome everyone to campus and encourages safety for the fall semester.

For those of you who are new to Health Sciences, welcome. And to those of you who are returning, welcome back. 

We are excited to start the fall semester, and we want to make sure you have a safe and healthy return to campus. As we navigate our lives around COVID-19 and the more virulent Delta variant, we must be extremely diligent in following current public health guidance to protect ourselves and those around us.
 
With the rise in cases due to the Delta variant, which can spread much more easily than the original COVID-19 virus, we’re encouraging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. With the recent FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, there's never been a better time to get vaccinated. 

This path to health will help protect ourselves and our loved ones from illness, hospitalization or even death. The time is now to act. Anyone interested in receiving a vaccine can learn more at the WV DHHR site. It’s safe, it’s effective, and it’s free. Being fully vaccinated is the single most important intervention we have against transmission of the Delta variant.
 
WVU temporarily revised its mask guidelines Aug. 18 to require everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks in classrooms, and research and teaching labs across all campuses for the next 30 days. Additional updates will be provided as they're available, and more information, including testing information, can be found at the WVU Return to Campus site. 

Masks are an easy, effective way to keep yourself and others safe. As a reminder, masks are required in all patient care areas in WVU Medicine facilities and in the Health Sciences Center. Additionally, WVU Health System will require COVID-19 vaccination by Oct. 31 for those working in patient care.
 
We want everyone to stay safe, and we want your Morgantown experience to be great.
 
Life is always about balance, and we must be mindful of not only our physical health, but our mental health as well. The BeWell team at Health Sciences is sharing weekly tips called “Try This Tuesday” that will be helpful as you navigate the semester. A number of resources are also available through the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness.
 
We want everyone to feel safe, welcome and included here at Health Sciences, now and always. We have a number of campus and community resources and services available to meet the needs of Mountaineers from all different backgrounds. 
 
As we kickoff the fall semester, I’ll leave you with the inspirational words of Khalil Gibran: “Progress is not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.”
 
Let’s Go.

Clay Marsh, M.D. 
Vice President and Executive Dean
WVU Health Sciences