We hear you and we are here for you

Originally written by Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S., Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for the Wednesday Update email on Sept. 7, 2022.

Whether you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community dealing with fear of monkeypox (MPX), or part of other communities experiencing racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or other forms of hate, or have experienced loss and trauma, as many have in these recent years, we hear you and we are here for you. Times have been difficult, and we recognize our faculty, staff, students, and contractors are working hard to provide the best patient care in the region while facing challenges on multiple fronts.

Thanks to your dedication and professionalism, we deliver world-class care to patients in Northern California, conduct groundbreaking research on advanced medicine and treatments, and train the future nurses and doctors through our top-ranked medical and nursing schools.

As one of the region’s largest employers, we also have a duty to protect our employees, provide them with resources and support, and to listen their concerns and respond accordingly. Our mission, vision, values and patient promise reflect our commitment to doing so. We are very appreciative of the ongoing advocacy from the UC Davis Health PRIDE ERG, the Vice Chancellor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council, and for their participation in numerous discussions to support our campus community.

“As advocates for our communities, our respective groups continue to shine light on the needs for health equity and to better recognize the social and institutional stigma that may be associated with monkeypox.”
– Matthew St. Amant, Chair of the PRIDE ERG
– Antionette Caruso, Co-Chair of the Vice Chancellor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council

At UC Davis Health, we are committed to helping our community respond to the MPX outbreak, both as a health system working in partnership to advance the health of our surrounding community, and as an employer of a vibrant and diverse community of employees. Below are resources on this issue as well as others for our faculty, staff and students:

• Monkeypox Information & Resources for Employees
• Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP)
• Wellness Resources & Programs
• Student Health & Counseling Services
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Guide

We recognize a global need exists for better access and treatment availability regarding MPX. Our scientists are working to discover treatments and are making headway, and our clinical teams are working hard to enhance services to our employees and community members. In recognizing the need for flexibility, we hope to bring vaccination clinics directly onsite during times that are flexible with work and home schedules.

Our communities are the core of who we are, both internally and externally – locally, regionally, and nationally. We are leaders who will continue to be forward thinking and who will boldly lead the way in delivering care and resources to communities in need through our partnerships, innovation, and care. If you have questions, please contact your supervisor or manager for help in identifying resources for assistance. And, please feel free to regularly refer back to the Monkeypox Information & Resources for Employees webpage for up-to-date information.

Finally, our values are reflective of the voices of employees across the UC Davis Health system who developed them. Living our values of ‘Kindness, Inclusion, and Trust’ ultimately support us in taking care of each other and our patients. As we work together to ensure those who have entrusted us with their health are receiving the best possible care, we stand by all our employees, students and contractors as we navigate monkeypox and other critical issues of our day and age. Thank you for your extraordinary contributions as a highly valued member of the UC Davis Health team.

Yours in health,

Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences