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Connecticut College
Digital Commons @ Connecticut College
Linda Lear Center for Special Collections &
Alumni News Archives
Summer 2020
CC: Connecticut College Magazine, Summer 2020
Connecticut College
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/alumnews
This Magazine is brought to you for free and open access by the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections &
Archives at Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Alumni News by an
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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.
5/11/20 11:33 AM
CURVE
THE
FLATTEN
cover-final.indd 2
CC Connecticut College Magazine Vol. 28 No. 3 ✦ Summer 2020
TOC.indd 1 5/6/20 3:03 PM
Departments Features
4 Conn’s campus response to COVID-19 THE FOUR ELEMENTS
8 Disease Control Stephanie Hackett ’09 is
an epidemiologist at the CDC 20 Water Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient
Emily Hazelwood ’11 talks to fellow
ocean explorer Fabien Cousteau about
9 The Spanish Flu What have we learned the state of our oceans
about pandemics, asks Professor
Marc Zimmer
10 Coping with a Pandemic Assistant
28 Fire Tropical forest ecologist Varun
Swamy ’01 conducts ecological
research in the Amazon using drones
Professor Nakia Hamlett on our “harbingers and social media
of hope”
12 Art in Lockdown Professor Timothy
McDowell on how we see art through the
34 Air Renewable energy drives
economic prosperity and reduces our
environmental footprint, says Goldman
lens of a pandemic Sachs’ Michael Conti ’06
14 Flatten the Curve Inside the hospital with
Conn’s medical professionals 42 Earth Ethan Brown ’94 disrupts the
food industry selling plant-based
alternatives that taste—and look—
18 Hope Susan Guillet ’94 oversees clinical like meat
trials of remdesivir, a potential therapeutic
for COVID-19
48 Class Notes
64 Full Stop Pandemic from a NYC window.
Illustration by Miles Ladin ’90
On the cover: An outdoor I.C.U. hospital located in Central Park.
Photo by Misha Friedman (See also pg. 14)
This page: Through the trees. Photo by Miles Ladin ’90
TOC.indd 2 5/12/20 2:08 PM
CC
CO N N EC T I C U T CO L L EG E
Magazine
From the
President
Volume 28 / Number 3
VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS:
Pamela Dumas Serfes
EDITOR: Edward Weinman
ART DIRECTOR: Benjamin Parent
Harold Shapiro
SENIOR WRITERS: Amy Martin, Doug Daniels
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Miles Ladin ’90
CLASS NOTES COMPILED BY: Alumni Relations
CC Magazine is published by the Office of Communications. We are
committed to covering a diverse group of stories in order to profile the
human condition as seen through—and sometimes written by—our
alumni, faculty, students and staff; we strive to publish features and
photography that illuminate the College’s story.
CC Magazine (ISSN 1060-5134) (USPS 129-140) is published in
winter, summer and fall, and is mailed free of charge to Connecticut
College alumni, parents and friends of the College. Standard rate
nonprofit postage paid at New London, CT, and at additional offices.
Contributions: CC Magazine will consider, but is not responsible
for, unsolicited manuscripts, proposals and photographs. Address
W
correspondence to:
e are living through an extraordinary moment in history. The
Editor, CC Magazine, Becker House,
senseless killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans at 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320-4196
Phone: 860-439-2500
the hands of white police and vigilantes have compelled people in every Fax: 860-439-5405
Email: ccmag@conncoll.edu
corner of the United States and around the world to take a stand against
Alumni: Send address changes to:
racism, and to demand the same of all our institutions. We have been
Alumni Office
deeply moved in the past week by the eloquent words of so many leaders, Connecticut College
including our own students, faculty, staff, alumnae and alumni, calling on 270 Mohegan Ave.
New London, CT 06320-4196
us to support black lives on campus, in our community, and in the world.
or email to alumni@conncoll.edu
This historic moment will not reward bystanders. It calls for action.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: CC Magazine, 270 Mohegan
Action is at the heart of our mission at Connecticut College: to educate Ave., New London, CT 06320-4196
students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens of a global society. CONNECTICUT COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Therefore, based on the broad goals of our Equity and Inclusion Action DeFred G. Folts III ’82, Chair, Debo P. Adegbile ’91, Vice Chair,
Jonathan H. Cohen ’87, Vice Chair, Nicole A. Abraham ’19, Young
Plan, found on our website, the College is making a commitment to Alumni Trustee, Seth W. Alvord ’93, Katherine Bergeron, President,
Betty Brown Bibbins ’73, Bradford T. Brown P’12 ’15 ’20, Lynn
advance anti-racist education through ten actions in three areas: campus Cooley ’76, Loulie Sutro Crawford ’89, T. Wilson Eglin ’86, Sarah H.
Fenton ’63, Carlos A. Garcia ’88, Rob Hale ’88 P’20, Mark M. Iger
’75, Eric J. Kaplan ’85, Martha Joynt Kumar ’63, John D. Linehan
safety and law enforcement; teaching and learning; and climate. For more P’18 ’23 ’24, Laurie Norton Moffatt ’78, Evan Piekara ’07, Sharis A.
Pozen ’86 P’19, Karen Quint ’87, Paolo A. Sanchez ’18, Young Alumni
information on our commitment, I invite you to read my June 8 letter to Trustee, Annie M. Scott ’84, Peter D. Skaperdas P’17, Dwayne C.
Stallings ’99, Maurice Tiner ’17, Young Alumni Trustee, Rajneesh Vig
the community, published on my president’s page on the College site. ’93, Eric J. Waldman P’20, Cynthia Kossmann Wilkinson ’84 P’19,
Leslie E. Wong, Timothy E. Yarboro ’75
I want you to know that we have prioritized equity and inclusion in
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
the College’s comprehensive fundraising campaign with a goal to raise at Peter Bakkala ’87 P’15, Isaac “Chip” Clothier ’79 P’10, Secretary,
least $5 million to support capital projects and programming. And we have Saveena Dhall ’94, Jermaine Doris ’19, Gregory Fleischmann ’90,
Erik Gammell ’00, Judith Epstein Grollman ’58, Ianthe Hensman
Hershberger ’06, Jonathan Kateman ’90 P’21, Mario Laurenzi ’90,
made progress. In 2018, a gift from a generous alumnus provided the seed Deborah Nichols Losse ’66, Marta Martinez Fernandez ’18, Lois
Mendez Catlin ’80, Vice President, Heather Morrison ’69 P’95, F.
funding for us to begin executing our plans. Last year, another alumnus Wisner Murray ’79 P’11, Derrick Newton ’17, Evan Piekara ’07,
President, Carolyn Boyan Raymond ’63, Travis Reid ’03, Calli
donated $500,000 to help us bring a second cohort of Posse scholars from Reynolds ’17, Harris Rosenheim ’09, David Schonberger ’77, Edward
“Ted” Svehlik ’97, Ivan Tatis ’10, An-Ming Truxes ’71, Daniel
New York City to join our scholars from Chicago. And yet another gift Wernick ’12, Denise Wheeless ’80, Stephen Wilkins ’84
of $1 million from Agnes Gund ’60 allowed us to endow The Dialogue
CC Magazine Copyright 2020 by Connecticut College, all rights
Project, a comprehensive social justice education program that is already reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission
is prohibited. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do
making an impact. not necessarily reflect official policy of the College.
We know the road to justice and equity is long, but we hope that, with For Class Notes submissions: classnotes@conncoll.edu
these concrete actions, our community will move a bit closer to realizing LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
the values we profess. We welcome your letters. The magazine publishes only letters
that comment on the most recent issue’s editorial content. Letters
As always, we thank you for your support and look forward to the may be edited. Please include your return address, an email
address (if you have one) and a daytime telephone number for
results of our collective commitment. verification purposes.
CC Magazine is printed on Rolland
Katherine Bergeron Enviro 100, a 100% PCW recycled paper.
Printed by Lane Press, a FSC/SFI certified
printer in Burlington, Vermont.
2 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | From the President
Notebook.indd 2 6/11/20 11:28 AM
From the
Editor
Stay Safe
A nd then the world’s citizens went inside.
The virologists, epidemiologists, emergency room
doctors and nurses implored us to: “Flatten the curve.”
we will continue telling stories about how our community is
coping with the pandemic.
Some readers might ask why the entire magazine doesn’t
By the end of March, around 2.6 billion people—one-third cover news about the pandemic. When we went remote, the
of the human population—were obeying some form of stay-at- magazine team was puzzling together a themed issue about the
home order, according to Agence France-Presse. That’s more environmental challenges facing our global society, and how
human beings than were alive to witness World War II. our alumni are deconstructing the commonly held belief that
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the trajectory of our reducing our environmental footprint to slow the warming of the
lives. The novel coronavirus, said to have originated in Wuhan, planet is mutually exclusive from economic prosperity. In the
China, has spared no community, including Conn’s. midst of this pandemic, it’s important to stress that our changing
On March 11, President Katherine Bergeron announced that environment is connected to the spread of disease.
Connecticut College would operate on a mostly remote basis “As pathogens are exposed to gradually warmer temperatures
in order to flat en the contagion curve. In her announcement, in the natural world, they become better equipped to survive the
Bergeron wrote that the College is “a community of character high temperature inside the human body,” wrote Justin Worland,
and a community of care. When faced with extraordinary a journalist for TIME who covers energy and the environment.
circumstances we think about each other, coming together to “And, with that, one of our body’s primary defense
work out solutions that are in the best interests of our students, mechanisms diminishes in effec iveness.”
faculty and staff. So we stuck with our original conceit. We organized
One of Conn’s core messages is that our community puts the feature well around the pre-Socratic philosopher
the world together in new ways. CC Magazine reflects what’s Empedocles’ theory of the four elements: water, fi e, air and
taking place in the world around us, so it was inconceivable earth. The writing and images serve to inform and transport our
that we could publish a magazine that did not cover the ways readers to the deep and total blueness of our world’s oceans, to
in which our alumni, faculty, students, parents and staff re high above the Peruvian Amazon, to wind turbines reaching
reconstructing our communities in new ways to fight this for the sky, and even to the chemistry labs creating meatless
pandemic and save lives—from remote teaching and distance hamburgers.
learning, to engagement in New London and around the globe, During this stage of the pandemic, when we stay at home to
to the doctors, nurses and first esponders treating the sick, to the flat en that stubborn curve, I wanted to provide the opportunity
medical researches searching for therapeutics to halt the virus. for our readers to travel.
Therefore, the front of this issue of the magazine covers Conn’s Stay safe. And healthy.
pandemic response.
Undoubtedly, we have left out numerous stories, since all of Edward Weinman
us, just by staying at home, are saving lives. In subsequent issues, Editor, CC Magazine
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 3
Notebook.indd 3 5/12/20 3:42 PM
Remote Control
The College moves to online teaching and learning
W hen Assistant Professor of
Government Mara Suttmann-Lea
tweeted a picture of podcast equipment
the other parts of the course,” Reder
told The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Lexi Pope ’21 said her professors
sion groups that took into account their
various time zones.
Zimmer scrapped plans to teach
set up in her cozy home-office spac have done a great job staying connected “Good Science, Bad Science, New
she captioned the picture, “Coming soon and acknowledging students’ unique Science, Old Science.” Instead, he
from my cabin in the woods, a ‘Podcast circumstances. taught “COVID-19: Diseases Without
About American Politics.’” “They made it clear that they were Borders.” It covered the impact of
She added the trending pandemic available to support and help us,” she globalization, high-density housing and
hashtag: #SocialDistancing. said. food supplies, as well as the diffe ences
A er Connecticut College went A psychology major and scholar in in the international responses to
remote on March 11, Conn’s faculty the Bodies/Embodiment Pathway, Pope diffe ent epidemics.
found innovative ways to adapt their in- created a study space in her home in “I reminded students of all the
person courses for remote instruction. Massachusetts. chemistry that we learned in class that
“It’s important to make learning as “It speaks highly of Conn that I still the coronavirus test uses,” he said. “It
equitable as possible. Some students may felt a sense of community even when was a great opportunity to show them
not have consistent access to the internet, we were so far apart,” she said. “We chemistry is not all theoretical; it has
or a computer with a microphone or a used social media and technology to important practical uses.’”
video camera. I think being open and our advantage. The Conn community Some faculty in fields that ely heavily
fl xible is really key, both for students remained very active, and things like on in-person experiences, including the
and myself,” Suttmann-Lea said. workout classes, motivation and advice arts, had to get extra creative.
Michael Reder, director of the were floa ing around. Students were “I am so amazed at all of my
College’s Joy Shechtman Manko reaching out and coming up with new colleagues at the College,” said Professor
Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL), ways to stay connected.” of Dance David Dorfman. “Where
along with his colleagues in the CTL Because Conn is a global community, there’s a will, there’s a way. Many
and in Conn’s Information Technology Marc Zimmer, the Jean C. Tempel ’65 faculty and worldwide dance artists are
group, created a tip sheet, “11 Teaching- Professor of Chemistry, quickly realized still making dances, podcasts and master
Focused Things to Consider when he’d have to adopt diffe ent approaches classes available online. There’s a lot we
Moving Your Course Online.” It has for his diffe ent classes. could work from.”
been shared hundreds of times and “My ‘Introduction to Chemistry’ class For courses, including “Dancers Act,
prompted inquiries from faculty as far had students in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Actors Dance,” Dorfman worked with
away as Germany. Africa, Hawaii—all over the world,” Zim- students to identify spaces in their homes
“Our students are going to learn mer said. “It would have been impossible where they could dance.
better, and our faculty are going to to teach all of them at the same time.” “Sometimes it was a hallway, or
teach better, when they feel connected For that class, Zimmer recorded a rec room, or part of a living room.
and emotionally safe. It’s important to lectures, provided materials to download Sometimes it was outside,” Dorfman
establish that online before you even start and broke the class into smaller discus- said. “We made it happen.”
4 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 4 5/6/20 2:36 PMOn the Front Lines of History
Conn students work as EMTs, fi efighters during COVID-19 pandemic
H ector Salazar ’20 didn’t head home
to Chicago when Connecticut
College went to remote modes of
“It got more stressful as [the number
of COVID-19 cases] increased,” she
said. “It’s a diffe ent environment; the
“It’s wildly diffe ent work,” said
Bryan, a dance major, biology minor and
scholar in the Creativity Pathway.
instruction because of the COVID-19 whole way we now approach patients “Here, since it’s much more urban, we
pandemic. A volunteer fi efigh er and an at an emergency scene has changed.” do a mix of emergency calls and hospital
EMT with a local fi e department and While Chafey admitted that it can be transports. We see more major medical
ambulance service, he had important scary to think about contracting the virus problems, and not as much trauma.”
work to do. herself, she said she takes all necessary While Bryan says she misses her
“I signed up to serve the community precautions. family in Wyoming, she’s glad to help
and I have a responsibility to do so; “When it comes down to it, I’d the community. In her free time, she’s
we can’t just stop coming into work rather have myself out there—someone also hand-making masks to help with
until this is over. People depend on us,” who is young and able—than someone the shortage of personal protective
said Salazar, who is one of at least fi e who is older and immunocompromised,” equipment (PPE).
Connecticut College students working she said. Victoria Duszak ’21 says keeping
as EMTs on the front lines of the Chafey said she would like to go up with the near-daily changes to PPE
pandemic. to graduate school, and is considering protocol can be a challenge.
An environmental studies and a career as a physician assistant. “It’s stressful overall, but it’s the same
anthropology double major and Posse Working as an EMT during a for everyone working in health care right
Scholar, Salazar arranged to stay on pandemic, she’s gaining hands-on now,” she said.
campus. He had to balance his distance experience. A behavioral neuroscience and Slavic
learning coursework while working up “I may never see something like this studies double major, physics minor
to 32 hours a week on the ambulance, again in my lifetime,” she said. “And and scholar in the Holleran Center for
and responding to fi e calls as they that’s quite fine with me. But if I do, I’ll Community Action, Duszak is working
came in. be a little more prepared for it.” as an EMT in Wolcott, Connecticut,
“I was promoted in January to 2nd Sydney Bryan ’21 usually spends near her hometown of Southington.
Lieutenant, and I’m very proud to her summers at home in Wyoming, “Now, if we get a call, it’s almost
serve and learn in the capacity of a fi e working for the emergency medical always going to be a COVID patient.
company officer,” he said. uch like department at Grand Teton National Every time the radio goes off,” she said
the student-athletes, I think of myself as Park, where the bulk of her work The experience has solidified Duszak’
a student-fi efigh er.” includes search-and-rescue calls from interest in becoming a doctor, and she’s
Taylor Chafey ’20, a biology major the backcountry. But since the park was currently applying to medical schools.
and government minor, also worked and closed to limit the spread of COVID-19, “It’s defini ely interesting living
volunteered as an EMT in Waterford, she stayed in New London County through something that we are going to
Connecticut. She said the last few to continue working for American talk about and look back on, but I guess
months have been unlike anything she’s Ambulance Service in Norwich, that’s the job. You take whatever comes
ever seen. Connecticut. at you in medicine,” she said.
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 5
Notebook.indd 5 5/6/20 2:36 PMCall to Action
Alumni answer the calls for help
B y the time Connecticut College
went to remote modes of learning,
some Conn students were stuck on
others continue in the fight o defeat the
coronavirus.
As a volunteer in the emergency
Griffiths is esident of Vigilant, a
Dover, New Hampshire-based fin
cabinetry, furnishings and mill-working
campus, while others who traveled for department at Los Angeles County + company that specializes in custom wine
Spring Break couldn’t return to pick up USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, storage and cigar humidor cabinets.
their belongings. California, Dylan Pinckert ’18 says it is Deemed an essential business, the
In stepped alumni like Patricia part of his job to make sure doctors and company is still operating, but has also
Swonger ’81 who contributed to the nurses have the PPE and tools they need devoted staff and esources to produce
College’s Student Emergency Fund. to treat COVID-19 patients. Pinckert, face shields with a design approved by
“I was a financial aid student a who plans to become a physician the National Institutes of Health.
Conn when I was there,” Swonger assistant and is in the process of getting “Our goal is 10,000 face shields
said. “Had it not been for the support I his EMT license recertified, take for first esponders and front-line
received from the Connecticut College seriously the mission of the hospital to healthcare workers in central New
community, I doubt I would have been provide all patients with top-quality care England,” said Griffith
able to graduate. The College was there regardless of their insurance status or To make the shields, Vigilant’s
for me, and it’s my job to be there for ability to pay. engineers remodeled a crowd-sourced
it now.” “Since the pandemic, the number of prototype of a face-shield crown for the
The Student Emergency Fund volunteers is a quarter of what it was. company’s CNC machinery, which
offe ed immediate support to help The department relies on us for help,” operates similarly to a 3D printer,
students with travel, housing, lost he said. processing a piece of material based on
wages from campus jobs, shipping, In addition to working directly with computer-programmed instructions.
moving expenses, and other unexpected patients, Conn alumni are addressing the Griffiths has bee working nearly
hardships that arose from the pandemic. pandemic in other ways. around the clock to procure the rest
“When I attended Conn, my family Anita Nadelson ’88 owns Three of the supplies, including buckles,
lived overseas in Nepal,” said Rachel by Three Seattle, a boutique design elastic bands and plastic sheets, while
Peniston ’11, who supported the fund. firm, and ne er thought she’d work the company’s staff members work to
“Had something like this occurred with a business contact in China to assemble the shields. In early April,
during my four years, I would not have track down swabs, which she and the company shipped the first 1,00
known where I could go. Thank you other Seattle business leaders donated masks to New Hampshire’s Staffo d
for setting up this fund to help students to the University of Washington County to be used in nursing homes.
with limited options at a critical Department of Laboratory Medicine The second batch went to two local
moment like this.” for COVID-19 testing. fi e departments.
The Emergency Fund effo t raised “We work with 25 factories in China. “We are doing this to help the
nearly $70,000. I know how to get anything made,” people who are risking their lives every
While hundreds of Conn alumni Nadelson told The Seattle Times. day,” Griffiths said. “It’s just the rig
helped students return home, many Charles Griffiths ’84 is al a maker. thing to do.”
6 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 6 5/6/20 2:36 PMCelebration of Seniors
An alternative way to honor Class of 2020
E mma Benington ’20 was supposed
to join her classmates on Tempel
Green on May 17 to celebrate the most
Conn apparel, smiling, waving,
skipping rocks and dancing. One
student, Benington said, tossed a
When the class does convene next
year, Viridiana Villalva Salas ’20 will
realize her lifelong dream of giving a
momentous day in a college student’s graduation cap into the air with one speech at her own graduation.
academic career: Commencement. hand, then caught a piece of rolled up Villalva Salas is a Posse Scholar
She’ll have to wait another year. paper—a “diploma”—in the other. from Chicago, Illinois, an English
In mid-April, President Katherine “This video provided a way to major, a scholar in both the Holleran
Bergeron and Benington, the Class ‘see’ each other in an intimate and Center for Community Action and
of 2020 president, broadcast a video meaningful way, and hopefully, gave us the Mellon Mays Undergraduate
message to the graduating class a sense of closure before we reunite at Fellowship Program, and is pursuing
announcing that Conn’s 102nd next year’s ceremony,” said Benington, her teaching certifica e in secondary
Commencement would be held May 30, a dance and behavioral neuroscience education. She was selected to address
2021, during Memorial Day weekend. double major from Portland, Maine. her classmates by members of the
A special remote event, featuring “It felt like the perfect way to bring a Commencement Student Speaker
video clips submitted by the students glimmer of joy to this day.” Selection Committee. In keeping with
themselves, recognized the graduates on The remote celebration also the tradition of informing student
their originally scheduled date. included a video message from keynote speakers of their selection from the top
Benington, who leads the student speaker Patrick Awuah, founding of Tempel Green, Dean of Students
subcommittee of the Commencement president of Ashesi University College, Victor Arcelus took a laptop to the
Task Force, said she felt that it was Connecticut College’s partner college green to give Villalva Salas the news
important to recognize May 17 as a day in Berekuso, Ghana. Awuah, a 2015 over a video call.
of celebration for the class but also to MacArthur “genius grant” winner, is “It felt so unreal,” Villalva Salas
make sure it didn’t replace the in-person a visionary leader who created Ashesi said. “It’s not o en that people with my
Commencement. University College in 2002 with the background are given the opportunity
“On top of the many events that our mission of educating a new generation to go to a college as prestigious as Conn,
class has lost, our celebrations together of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders much less speak at Commencement.”
are among the most missed,” she said, in Africa. Villalva Salas said COVID-19 is
adding that the in-person ceremony Awuah will address the graduates just the latest of several obstacles that
next year gives members of the class at the 2021 ceremony and receive the resilient Class of 2020 has had to
something to look forward to. a doctor of humane letters honoris overcome, and that she looks forward to
A er the announcement was made, causa, an honorary degree that reflect a well-deserved celebration next year.
Benington emailed the entire class, his revolutionary achievements in “We will all be coming back together
asking for short video clips of seniors higher education in Ghana, as well a er a full year of graduate school, jobs
in order to compile the clips into as his commitment to the values that and fellowships. It won’t be like any
a single celebratory video. Those animate our mission of the liberal arts other Commencement that has been
submissions included students donning in action. seen on our campus.”
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 7
Notebook.indd 7 5/12/20 2:07 PMDisease Control
Stephanie Hackett ’09 shapes public health decisions
U sually, Stephanie Hackett ’09
spends at least a quarter of her time
traveling around the world.
difficulty maintaining social distanci
at health care facilities, or potential
medication shortages if global supplies
years as a pediatric infectious disease
physician assistant for the Atlanta,
Georgia-based Grady Health System,
An epidemiologist at the Centers for are affec ed,” Hackett says. providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Launched by U.S. President George and pediatric primary care to HIV-
based in Atlanta, Georgia, she specializes W. Bush in 2003, PEPFAR is a U.S. infected children and young people from
in pediatric and adolescent HIV care governmental initiative that addresses birth to age 25, before joining the CDC
and treatment. She visits some of the 50 the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and in 2017.
countries that receive support from the works to save the lives of those sufferin She still works one day a week treating
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS from the disease. Since its inception, HIV-positive children and teens at Grady
Relief (PEPFAR), helping local country it has provided more than $80 billion Hospital’s Ponce De Leon Center.
offices and ministrie of health scale up in funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, “These visits have also largely shi ed
pediatric and adolescent HIV testing and prevention and research, making it the to telemedicine to limit our patients’ po-
treatment. largest-ever effo t by any one nation to tential exposure to COVID-19,” she says.
Now, like so many of us, Hackett is address a single disease. Like so many working parents,
working mostly from home. Now, PEPFAR is addressing one Hackett is also homeschooling her two
“With the current travel restrictions, disease while dealing with another. young children. It’s a lot for anyone to
I can no longer work in person with “I now serve as the pediatric and handle, but Hackett says her work is
my colleagues around the world,” she adolescent COVID-19 point-of-contact exciting and rewarding.
says. “The CDC has moved meetings within my CDC division to help ensure “I love using my clinical skills as
and communication largely to virtual HIV-positive pediatric and adolescent a physician assistant as well as my
platforms to still provide effec ive and populations are being considered background in global public health on
personal public health expertise.” and planned for in the PEPFAR a daily basis and in a variety of ways
That may be more important than COVID-19 preparation and response throughout the agency to do my part in
ever for the vulnerable populations effo ts,” Hackett says. “This means responding to this pandemic,” she says.
Hackett serves. Over the last few weeks, daily communication within and across As the pandemic evolves, so might
her work has shi ed significantly a agencies to discuss and distribute the Hackett’s role. The CDC’s 24/7
she tries to mitigate the impact of the latest information and recommendations emergency operations center, which
COVID-19 pandemic on HIV-infected related to COVID-19.” has been coordinating the COVID-19
children and their families. At Conn, Hackett majored in biology, response, is largely staffed y CDC
“Not only do people who are HIV- minored in Latin American studies and employees who have volunteered for the
positive deal with the risk of getting was a scholar in the Holleran Center for mission. Hackett has volunteered, and is
COVID-19, they also deal with the Community Action. She then went on ready to serve when necessary.
effects that C VID-19 can have on their to earn a Master of Public Health and a “I am prepared to deploy fulltime to
ability to access HIV care, such as lack Master of Medical Science from Emory support the COVID-19 response for as
of public transportation to clinic visits, University. She served for nearly fi e long as may be needed,” she says.
8 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 8 5/6/20 2:37 PMThe Spanish Flu
What can the 1918 Flu epidemic teach us about COVID-19, asks Professor Marc Zimmer
CC Magazine: The Spanish Flu
didn’t start in Spain. Why did
the Iberian country get stuck with the name?
hadn’t yet developed drugs or vaccines for
the flu. This is als true for COVID-19. In
addition, the 1918 flu virus was a spillover
to war bonds. This provided the newly
arrived virus a feast of victims, resulting in
a tenfold higher death rate due to the fl
virus. Like COVID-19, it came from than was observed in the more careful St.
Marc Zimmer: It’s commonly believed nonhuman hosts and no one had immunity Louis over the same period.
that the 1918 pandemic started in Camp to this new virus.
Funston, Kansas. The camp hospital CC: Does the Spanish Flu inform us about
received its first influenz victim on CC: What lessons do we still need to how the COVID-19 pandemic ends?
March 4. By April, 30 of the 50 largest learn from the 1918 flu pandemic
cities in the United States, most in close MZ: In 1918, the U.S. Army requested
proximity to military bases, reported MZ: COVID-19 originated in China. Its George Soper—who discovered Mary
increased deaths. It spread to England, heavy-handed quarantines may have saved Mallon, or Typhoid Mary, an asymptom-
France, Germany and Spain. Spain was thousands of U.S. lives. Although we may atic carrier of typhoid—to investigate the
the only country hit by the virus that was have wasted the advantages given to us by flu pandemic. He found that the comple e
not involved in World War I; therefore it the Chinese, we need to pay it forward to isolation of flu pa ients was the only way to
was the only country to report the true our neighbors in the southern hemisphere control the outbreak and that “the disease
extent of the pandemic. This resulted and slow the spread in the U.S. To miti- is carried from place to place by persons,
in the mistaken belief that the 1918 fl gate resurgences of the virus and to prevent not things or by the general atmosphere, as
originated in Spain. future pandemics, global cooperation is was once supposed. Its rapidity of spread
required. Withdrawing from the World is due to its great infectivity, short period
CC: The Spanish Flu was the last Health Organization and blaming China of incubation, missed cases and absence
pandemic. How does it compare to the won’t help. It will antagonize our allies, of timely precautionary measures. The
COVID-19 outbreak? which may further weaken our medical epidemics stop themselves ... either by the
supply chains and endanger our epidemio- exhaustion of the susceptible material, by a
MZ: The 1918 flu pandemic haunt logical early-warning systems. reduction in the virulence of the causative
all epidemiologists. It’s estimated that agent, or both.” Despite this knowledge,
between 50 million and 100 million people CC: We’ve been told to practice social and although public health officials d-
died. The world is more prepared now distancing. Where did that come from? vocated keeping a distance, not everyone
and science has dramatically advanced. adhered to the advice—with deadly con-
However, the U.S. response to COVID-19 MZ: The first cases of 1918 flu amon sequences. Sound familiar?
shows there are some important lessons civilians in Philadelphia were reported on
we haven’t learned. COVID-19 isn’t like Sept. 17, 1918. Authorities downplayed Marc Zimmer is the Jean C. Tempel ’65 Pro-
the flu. It’s its own beast. It’s caused by a their significance and on the 28th the city fessor of Chemistry. He teaches a new course,
coronavirus, not an influenza virus, and held the largest parade in its history: the “COVID-19: Diseases Without Borders.” He
there are many diffe ences to the 1918 flu “Liberty Loan Drive,” a massive gath- is the author of the soon to be released The
But there are also similarities. In 1918, we ering designed to get people to subscribe State of Science (Prometheus Press, 2020).
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 9
Notebook.indd 9 5/6/20 2:37 PMCoping with a Pandemic
CC Magazine: Aside from teach-
ing, you are a psychologist who
specializes in child, adolescent and young
dures you should have in place for man-
aging risk once somebody returns to the
house. Naturally, this planning can create
CC: What behaviors should people
look for, both in themselves and
among friends, family and coworkers,
adult mental health. How have you been some anxiety, but establishing routines that could be a signal that mental
making it through this difficult ime? will ultimately lead to stronger feelings health treatment should be sought?
of control and security. Finally, we all
Nakia Hamlett: It’s challenging. It’s need to remember that this situation will NH: Depression is a complex and
interesting. It’s anxiety-provoking. I try improve. It’s a matter of diligently and insidious disease that can wax and
to limit my intake of news, because I got patiently waiting this out as best we can. wane over the course of somebody’s
to a place where it didn’t seem helpful to life. Some people suffe from constant
watch all the time. CC: No person is an island. How can low-grade depression or experience
we reduce the sense of isolation and an acute episode of depression that
CC: What are some coping mechanisms loneliness now that we can’t gather with comes on suddenly.
students, faculty and staff should conside those outside our household? Symptoms to look out for are
if struggling during the pandemic? feeling tired or listless, no longer
NH: I’m a strong believer in practicing enjoying activities that you previously
NH: Self-care is critically important. mindfulness in combination with other enjoyed, increased isolation from other
Broadly speaking, self-care is anything tools that can help combat thoughts that people, and even talking more about
that promotes your sense of having some make people feel bad. Focusing attention feelings of helplessness or suicidal
control and feeling good. Getting plenty on joyful activities and memories, and thoughts. Many of those thoughts and
of rest, eating well and getting exercise spending time on passion projects that feelings can easily go unnoticed by
are all important, as well as my personal you suddenly have more time to complete others if they’re not verbalized.
favorites, meditation and mindfulness. are great ways to get out of your mind In acute cases, when somebody
Self-care also means connecting with and stay busy with life. Also, watching stops engaging in basic life activities,
significant others, online if you can’t be TV shows that are more lighthearted, expresses suicidal thoughts or suggests
with them in person (while keeping six funny or interesting is another way to they might have a specific plan fo
feet apart). distract from the constant dialogue in harming themselves, they may need
your mind. Given that we’re all living to seek emergency resources. But for
CC: What about for those who are living through a real-life trauma, avoiding dark friends, family and other supportive
with others and have less control over the shows that focus on disturbing or stressful people in the life of anybody who is
mitigation of risk factors? topics is probably a good idea. In general, suffering f om depression, it’s important
anxiety and depression thrive when we to continue being supportive, empathetic
NH: It can be good to agree on household give our attention to fearful or depressing and available, but also realize that those
rules: communicate about who will be thoughts. So the more we learn to focus effo ts won’t magically change how
leaving the house and how o en during our attention and distract ourselves, the somebody in a dark emotional space
the pandemic, and what sorts of proce- less intense these symptoms can be. thinks or feels overnight.
10 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 10 5/6/20 2:37 PMVisiting Professor of Psychology Nakia Hamlett discusses
mental health in the time of quarantine.
Still, if you know somebody sufferin family and friends in more meaningful CC: How do young people process
from severe depression, don’t ever give ways than we have in years. We’re trauma, anxiety and stress diffe ently
up on getting them the help and support also harnessing the promise of new than older people?
they need, even if they threaten to end technology and finding inn vative ways
your relationship. They’ll thank you later. to do our work. This is also causing NH: Young adults are developmentally
parents to develop a greater appreciation diffe ent. We know the frontal lobe is
CC: Past national or global tragedies for teachers and will lead to more not fully developed until around the
and challenges like the Great Depression collaboration between parents and their age of 25, so young adults are likely
have defined the philosophies and menta childrens’ teachers in the future. processing these events diffe ently.
health of entire generations. What can we So, despite the fact that this is a My experience so far with my students
do now to proactively combat the long- traumatic event that will have lasting is that they’re less vocal about their
term consequences of the trauma we’re memories, like generations before us who anxiety, even if they are perhaps
experiencing during this outbreak? have lived through catastrophic times, nervous about the virus. And it’s
this will build a legacy of resilience, important to remember that the age
NH: Illness and death caused by the humility and renewed confidence an group that has seen the largest increase
virus, as well as the economic fallout, are optimism. in mental health services in recent years
going to produce traumatic a ershocks has been the 18-to-25-year-old group.
that persist for months or even years to CC: You’ve researched mental health Students are struggling with depression,
come. Most important, we should be disparities and challenges unique to anxiety, sexual assault issues, domestic
thinking of ways we can help within minority and underserved populations. violence and other potentially traumatic
our local communities or on a national How are those communities fairing events. We all need to understand that
level. Families will need support, workers during this crisis? for young adults already contending
will need jobs, communities will need with such difficu ies, the pandemic may
resources, and engaging in those types of NH: I hope this time causes us to be creating even greater difficu ies for
positive effo ts to rebuild and help others rethink what and who we value with them right now.
is a potent way to build agency and feel the assumption that everybody deserves
empowered. We’re already seeing stories health and life’s basics. COVID-19 CC: What role will young adults play
of people all around us sharing resources doesn’t discriminate, but unfortunately a er this pandemic passes?
and helping each other. I expect that will our systems and communities do. Our
continue for months and will play a key systems are fundamentally fl wed, and NH: Our students and young adults
role in helping us heal both individually a crisis like this highlights those fl ws, everywhere will be essential to rebuilding
and as a country. such as when poorer communities that our communities and recovering from this
I also believe that it’s helpful to think are disproportionately black and LatinX crisis. They’re the harbingers of hope in
about some of the positive developments don’t have access to the resources they our culture, as they’re activists, scholars,
that can still come out of this crisis. For need to combat the virus and its physical computer scientists and techies who
one thing, many of us will reconnect with and mental health impacts. know how to build communities.
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 11
Notebook.indd 11 5/6/20 2:37 PMArt in Lockdown
Professor of Art Timothy McDowell and his students
find ays to create while studying remotely.
T here’s a popular myth that
the French philosopher and
mathematician René Descartes would
TM: This is essential to the well-
rounded approach of the liberal arts. We
need to keep feeding both sides of the
TM: For one thing, the pandemic has
obliterated the gallery world. At the
moment, it’s not possible to attend
climb into an old oven to escape brain and keep the creative and inventive openings and exchange ideas with
the distractions of daily life, only to connections between the brain and the people while looking at work firsthand.
emerge with creative new takes on the hand and the mind strong. I was just You can view art online, but it isn’t the
human condition and groundbreaking telling my class that this situation has same. There’s no tactile reference.
geometric theories. Today, Art required reinvention, and reinvention is I had a solo exhibition planned for the
Professor Timothy McDowell, in his one of the most creative and important beginning of June that’s now on hold,
40th year at Conn, and his students things a person can do. We need to look and I don’t know when it will occur.
are mining inspiration from pandemic- at our situation and find ne ways of I was working toward that exhibition
induced isolation. achieving our goals. concerned about issues like economic
inequality, greed, and political and
CC Magazine: How has this unprec- CC: Have the stay-at-home require- financial pol rization. The work was
edented time of working remotely ments impacted you and your inspired in part by another time in
changed the way you approach your job? art personally? history when a pandemic took hold,
during World War I, and those events
Timothy McDowell: This current TM: For a lot of studio artists, since we influenced rt. I hope that when this
situation has obviously required spend so much time alone anyway, the exhibition is finally seen, I’ e created
some adjustment, because in a solitude might not feel so foreign and a body of work that causes viewers to
studio environment, normally we’d difficult. Th e’s really no way to be in stop and engage each piece as a part of
be walking around and offerin a studio and concentrate and be creative a larger puzzle. But I’m exploring new
constructive feedback on each other’s if there’s a crowd there, so personally places as an artist that I’ve never been.
work and offering dvice on process the isolation hasn’t been so bad. I’m What better time to reinvent yourself
or nudging each other to improve a very lucky to have my studio attached to than at a time when the whole world is
project. At the moment we’re viewing my house. I’ve felt fortunate to be able having to reconstruct how it functions?
work on screens where the work isn’t to find mo e moments here and there
quite as clear or well defined. Bu where I can duck into my studio and do CC: Since you’ve had a show
despite that challenge, we’ve continued some work or truly concentrate on what postponed indefini ely, you can
to keep the dialogue going and the my students are doing. Finding those identify with students who won’t have
minds working to create things. spontaneous moments can be difficul their final xhibitionsor attend the
when I’m at work surrounded by people. many end-of-year ceremonies that
CC: Why is it so important to do seniors, in particular, look forward
whatever is necessary so that students CC: How has the pandemic changed to. What advice have you given
can still access art and have the your process or affec ed your job as your students about coping with this
opportunities to create it? an artist? disappointment?
12 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 12 5/6/20 2:38 PMTimothy McDowell, Blind Love, 2020, Oil on Panel, 48” x 48”
TM: I think it’s important to remind CC: Are you considering other ways for TM: I’ve been impressed with how
them—and I know they understand your students to share their work with well students have adjusted and
this—that they’re making art for the Conn community? adapted. I think part of this is thanks to
themselves and feeding their own need a generational exposure to technology.
to create art. The exhibition at the end TM: We’re thinking about putting to- They’ve grown up used to creating and
should be seen as the icing on the cake gether a catalogue of their work that can interacting with screens, and so I think
of that creative process. It isn’t the be printed and shared, and we’ll probably that has helped. I also think they’ve
exhibition that makes the artist—it’s the create a website with all the projects. We had greater access to me or have taken
artwork that makes the artist. I know would also defini ely still like to have an advantage of video conferencing to
that the activity of being in the studio opening once we’re back on campus, and discuss their work and have learned
or at home and making something those students who have recently grad- to plan and manage their time in new
and imagining an exhibition can be uated who are able to come back would ways. I’m having more brief video chats
motivational sometimes, because there’s certainly be invited to participate. with students where we just check in,
an impetus to participate and display and which I really like. It’s much better
share your work. But you’re making art CC: Have there been any pleasant and more personal than just reading an
because you have a need to do it. It makes surprises or positive aspects of remote email, so I hope that new piece of our
you feel whole. It allows you to have a teaching that you didn’t expect to daily communication remains a er we
dialogue about the events in your life. encounter? return to normal.
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 13
Notebook.indd 13 5/6/20 2:38 PMMisha Friedman
14 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 14 5/6/20 2:38 PMFlatten the
Curve
BY AMY MARTIN
Days in the lives of
three doctors treating
COVID-19 patients.
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 15
Notebook.indd 15 5/12/20 2:06 PMI n early March, Andrew Duarte ’13,
a third-year rehabilitation medicine
resident physician, was working to
severest symptoms were older individuals
and those with comorbidities. That led
some younger people to resist early social
and an isolated zone for people with
COVID-19 symptoms.
“As this has progressed, the isolated side
improve the quality of life for patients who distancing measures. of the emergency department is getting
had suffe ed injuries or impairments at an “We’ve seen young people and old bigger and bigger,” Pasquarello said.
NYU Langone Health clinic for veterans. people. We’ve seen old people you’d But Pasquarello also noticed that the
Then the first cases of COVID-19 expect to have a bad outcome recover, hospital’s regular volume of patients has
were identified in ew York City. Within and then some 20-to-30-year-old patients dropped off significantly. He attrib es the
weeks, the city became the epicenter of a who are ventilated. We have to figu e out decline in part to the stay-at-home orders,
global pandemic. why that is,” Duarte said. which are leading to fewer traumatic
Almost overnight, life changed for “It’s not just your 84-year-old injuries, like broken bones and motor
Duarte. grandmother or your 64-year-old uncle vehicle accidents.
The veteran’s clinic temporarily closed. who is a smoker. It could be your friends,” Still, that doesn’t explain the drop in car-
Duarte and his colleagues, who never Duarte added. diac patients or those suffering f om abdom-
expected to practice internal medicine As the global death toll mounts, inal pain and appendicitis, for example.
again, were asked to volunteer to care for doctors and scientists around the world “I think more and more people are afraid
COVID patients. Duarte went to work are racing to understand more about to come to the hospital, afraid they might be
at Bellevue Hospital, one of the largest COVID-19. Dr. Donald Pasquarello ’86 exposed and contract the virus,” he said.
hospitals in the country. says he has never seen anything like it in That’s a concern for doctors, too.
“It’s been six days a week, 12 to 14 his 23 years in emergency medicine. Duarte says that although his hospital has
hours a day,” Duarte said. “The hospital is “I was in training when HIV surfaced, been able to maintain sufficient l els of
totally flooded with COVID patients.” and it was scary because we didn’t know personal protective equipment (PPE), he
On a normal day in the hospital, Duarte much about the virus, we just knew purchased his own P100 respirator, which
says he’d hear one or two overhead pages people were dying,” said Pasquarello, fil ers out at least 99.97% of airborne
for patients who were crashing and in an emergency medicine physician at particles, on eBay.
need of emergency intervention. Now, it’s Beverly Hospital, about 20 miles north Pasquarello said it’s been an
hourly. of Boston. adjustment to wear PPE at all times, and
“You hear the page and you realize it’s “When Ebola surfaced in the U.S., I that the hospital has implemented other
your patient and you are sprinting up the think that was a wake-up call for people, policies and procedures in an effo t to
stairs,” he said. “We go in [to treat them] but an epidemic never materialized. keep staff healt y and prevent the spread
only if absolutely necessary. We are told COVID-19 is diffe ent, because it’s so of the virus.
there is no such thing as an emergency in a contagious and can be spread by people “Everybody who is working on the
pandemic.” with minimal to no symptoms,” he said. front lines is concerned about contracting
When the first informa ion about To prepare for an influx of COVID-19 this virus and bringing it home to our
COVID-19 began fil ering out of China, patients, Beverly Hospital split its families. We see the worst of it, because
where the virus is said to have originated, emergency department into zones—one most people who are coming to the
it was reported that those suffering th for patients without respiratory symptoms hospital are very sick. You think about it,
16 S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook
Notebook.indd 16 5/6/20 2:38 PM“Right now, we don’t have enough tests to test
everybody. We are just burning through PPE because
everyone has to be treated as presumed positive.”
but at the end of the day, you go to work for children who have been here a long of conversations going forward about the
and you do your job,” he said. time,” Spence said. “We have 8-to-10- need for post-COVID societal changes.”
Dr. Kimberly Spence ’94 says doctors month-old children with chronic health Imagining a post-COVID world,
and nurses are scrambling to keep up with issues who really depend on socialization.” with still so many unknowns, is difficul
the near-daily policy changes, which Spence says the policies could be Vaccines may not be ready for the general
impact nearly every aspect of their work. amended with greater testing capacity. public for more than a year, antibody
Spence is both an associate professor Ideally, everyone coming into the hospital tests aren’t yet fully reliable or readily
of pediatrics at Saint Louis University would be tested on arrival. available, and experts still don’t know
School of Medicine and a neonatologist “Right now, we don’t have enough for sure if those who have recovered
at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital tests to test everybody. We are just burning from COVID-19 will have prolonged
in St. Louis. She says changes in visitor through PPE because everyone has to be immunity.
policies—designed to protect both treated as presumed positive,” she said. But there is some good news.
patients and hospital faculty and staff “This has unmasked a weakness within “Staying at home and social distancing
has been particularly hard for labor and our medical care system.” really is helping—it is working to flat en
delivery and neonatal intensive care Spence says more transparency is need- the curve,” said Pasquarello. “I like to
(NICU) patients. ed in the medical supply chain throughout look at the positives. We know about 80%
“Laboring mothers are limited to one the U.S. so states can collaborate and share of people have mild to moderate symp-
support person, and if they are COVID- resources instead of being forced to com- toms. People who have recovered or who
positive, it’s no support person. Your sup- pete against each other. have been asymptomatic will develop
port person might be on an iPad,” she said. “That’s how we can get through some protective immunity.
Recommendations for how to manage this. It comes in waves. When it hits in “I think we’ll get through this.”
the care of newborns born to COVID- New York, we should be shipping our In New York, Duarte is scheduled
positive mothers are continuously ventilators to them. And then when we to continue working with COVID-19
evolving, but in some cases, Spence says, need them, they ship them back to us. patients through at least the end of June.
mothers are being instructed to stay at “But the federal government needs to But he is beginning to think there is a
least six feet away from their newborns, or be able to take the lead on this. You can’t chance he could return to rehabilitation
the babies are being cared for in a diffe ent just sit it out.” medicine before then.
room entirely. Duarte agrees that the pandemic “We are defini ely seeing a downward
“It’s completely the antithesis of what quickly exposed the cracks in the coun- trend. We are seeing fewer new diagno-
you want new moms and babies to be try’s social systems. ses, and we are collapsing some of the
doing,” she said. “It reinforces the fact that the health repurposed units,” he said.
The policy changes have also been care system overall is grossly inadequate,” “I volunteered not only to help
devastating for babies in the NICU, he said. COVID patients but to help out my
particularly older babies who thrive on “But it’s not just that. We saw how resident colleagues. There has been great
social interaction. many people lost their jobs so quickly, for camaraderie, and it has been an honor to
“They are allowed only one person to example. It’s impacting life in so many work with them. I’ll be there as long as
come and visit, and that’s a real problem diffe ent ways. I think there will be lots they need me.”
S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 | Notebook 17
Notebook.indd 17 5/6/20 2:39 PMYou can also read
