Dr. Jeffrey Gold
Chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Leaning In
Filling a Void
Nebraska had several critical resources at its disposal as it headed into the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these were: the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), which serves as a major research center on infectious diseases; a four-state network coordinating disaster response; and “Rural Health Matters”, a popular weekly cable TV show trusted by coast to coast rural residents throughout the country. The state brought all of those assets to bear to aid government decision-making and to keep rural residents abreast of the changing science. UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold was deeply involved in all three enterprises, placing him at the heart of much of Nebraska’s pandemic response.
Activating Long Established Resources
Reacting to preparedness gaps revealed during SARS, the anthrax attacks, Ebola, and other health emergencies, UNMC used state and federal funding to develop facilities and staff and build a national reputation for expertise in biocontainment and infectious diseases research. When COVID-19 emerged, it used these resources to care for travelers returning from Wuhan and passengers from the Diamond Princess, one of the first cruise ships to become infected with the virus. UNMC also aided the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in developing test kits and conducting clinical trials for treatments, publishing more than a dozen playbooks for infection control that were used from school systems to the National Basketball Association.
UNMC also used resources and networks it developed as a leader in the Regional Disaster Health Response Ecoystem (RDHRE), a federally funded nation-wide consortium grouped by state into seven regions (Nebraska’s includes Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.)
We were the first in the country, along with Massachusetts General, to be funded for the RDHRE [Regional Disaster Health Response Ecoystem] in 2018. As a result, we developed a communications infrastructure protocol and procedures for dealing with a full spectrum of disaster responses, including environmental responses – meaning tornados and other things. And that grew into a communications network that was really quite strong—a set of dashboards and infrastructure. It wasn’t perfect, but we were able to put together data reporting infrastructures and immediately pull in the governor and the legislatures for the four-state region.
The Governor Governs
Given the position and knowledge, the UNMC Global Center for Health Security along with Dr. Gold was a key participant in Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts’s regular meetings of the state’s public health personnel. The group met with the governor via Zoom every Tuesday through the UNMC’s Global Health Security Center’s Infectious Disease Briefing. While UNMC provided the science required to help make critical pandemic-related decisions, the governor took charge of decision-making.
The governor governs, that’s his job. Our job is to make the best out of the situation before us. Our support of state decision-making largely grew from a tightly knit coalition of the willing. When it came to supporting the decision making on matters such as distributing personal protective equipment, ventilators, and drugs, that was all handled through this group. This coalition of the willing seemed to gel, including all of the state public health leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services, the regional Hospital Coalitions as well as the University Global Center for Health Security leadership.
“We were questioned frequently by the media, because we did provide recommendations on the health safety of school and business protocols, and on many other issues, with the state leadership on several occasions. My answer was always the same: We don’t govern; what the university does provide guidance based on science and data.”
Difficult Decisions
As meat prices skyrocketed, one priority was ensuring continued safe operation of the state’s meat processing plants, which are critical to the nation’s food supply.
Reaching Rural Residents
While exchanging data and information with experts through a variety of networks, Gold also communicates directly with a broad rural audience through the award-winning “Rural Health Matters”, where he gives weekly COVID updates, discusses other health issues of relevance to a rural audience, and answers call-in questions. “Rural Health Matters” is aired on RFD-TV, a 24-hour network viewed by millions devoted to rural living founded by Nebraska business operator Patrick Gottsch.
All we can do during our broadcasts is provide the most up to date information, and – as it changes – be humble about the fact that it’s going to change, we have to recognize what the science tells us on a day by day basis, and make our best real time decisions on that science.
“We were (and still are) very frustrated with disinformation and misinformation – and frankly, by suspicion. We have received our share of hate notes and death threats. It goes with the turf. This is not a low-risk business. But the overwhelming majority of the responses are, “Thank you very much—it’s God’s work.” We get call ins, emails and letters all the time, saying we are the most trusted source of information for people in rural America.”