The last couple of months have been challenging for health care, UF Health and the world as COVID-19 took the stage. In March, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and travel between countries was restricted or limited, meetings and events were postponed and businesses across America transitioned to virtual environments, including many of the departments within our enterprise.

As always, the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors, faculty, staff and volunteers remains a top priority. Many of our efforts were focused on preparing our hospital for the inevitable peak, as well as flattening the curve of the virus’s spread. We’re continuing to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases at UF Health, the state and across the country and stay up-to-date on the constantly evolving information surrounding the pandemic.

Despite these challenges, our enterprise has adapted to the ever-changing situation. I’m grateful to all of you who are working on the front lines. I admire your commitment and dedication in the face of an unprecedented event. Your understanding and flexibility has made all the difference.

Our enterprise has also seen incredible support from the community, with more than 50 companies and individuals donating food, supplies and cash gifts to our hospitals. From businesses and churches donating meals and personal protective equipment to our employees and community groups making masks for employees as we waited for PPE orders to arrive, the outpouring of support gives us hope.

Another win I’m happy to report is that we received $100,000 from the First Coast Relief Fund through the United Way of Northeast Florida. This money is funding equipment for telemedicine appointments, among other things, which are even more vital in the current climate. Thank you to Kimberly Jones, chief development officer at UF Health Jacksonville, and Nipa Shah, MD, chair of community health and family medicine at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, for their efforts, as well as the efforts of many others who have been instrumental in helping secure donations that are supporting our enterprise during this time.

The United Way of Northeast Florida is one of the organizations we support in our annual spring employee giving campaign “Give Where You Live,” which offers the chance for employees at the downtown and north campuses, as well as outpatient practices, to donate to the Children’s Miracle Network, United Way or both. The campaign is happening this month, and although it will look slightly different this year due to social distancing, I invite you to participate and give back to the community, who has been so faithful in showing their support to UF Health.