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I finally got a message from Dr. Thompson this evening. Can’t quite express how grateful I was to hear her voice and know she’s ok. I also got a call from Dr. Donna Melendez with information. After that I heard back again from Dr. Cass with his final bit of information for the night.

Drs. Melendez and Yadiki will be leaving the Island tomorrow, in accordance with UTMB’s announcement that they are shrinking the on-site staff to only those absolutely necessary. At this time Family Medicine does not need any relief of duty on campus.

We will continue to be at emergency status. Employees can expect to continue to be paid at their normal rate. If you have any questions about this, please send them to me or call and I will try to track down an answer for you.

Water service and power are currently unavailable on the island. It is expected that water service will be restored in the next 2-3 days, and electricity in 2 weeks, with 4 weeks as a current worst case scenario. (Please remember this is all tentative.) Employees should note that restoration of power is prerequisite for a return to normal business operations.

I’ve gotten many questions about return to business and the condition of our clinics. The information we have now is that there was minimal water damage to both the Primary Care Pavilion and Stewart Road Family Health. We do not know what “minimal” entails, but it is thought that it’s basic repairs.

Our department leaders are beginning to formulate plans. Dr. Thompson and Judy have been in contact on the Island and are supposed to meet tomorrow and pass information back to me. Dr. Cass is now home and may join them if possible. I am supposed to talk to Dr. Thompson tomorrow, and will share the details of the tentative plans after that.

As to communications, Dr. Cass has contacted all of Leadership. I spoke with or got messages from nearly all of our academic staff today. Susan Rozycki, Doris Courteau, and Madalyn Tucker were following up with the coders, FM Clinic staff, and Stewart Road staff respectively. I believe the program directors are all staying in touch with their faculty. So far it sounds like everyone is safe. We are scattered around, but well.

Have a good night and stay safe.

Julia