COVID-19: The Way Forward

Spring 2021

Throughout human history, we have dealt with waves of disease—influenza, smallpox, Ebola, SARS—what makes COVID-19 different, and are we equipped to deal with another pandemic in the future?

COVID-19: The Way Forward is an exploratory journey of emerging questions and new developments around COVID-19. As we move into a new phase of the pandemic with vaccines becoming available, we’ll discuss real-time updates and what we believe lies ahead.

Watch sessions and clips

About Mini Medical School

Mini Medical School offers a unique glimpse into the health sciences at the University of Minnesota. Community learners with a shared interest in health embark on a journey examining the scientific foundations of health and disease. Presented using common language for ease of understanding complex topics, your guides are internationally renowned experts who are shaping the way health care is delivered locally and globally. You will also hear from Minnesotans with lived experience of COVID-19.

Session 1: COVID-19 Vaccines, Variants, & Evolution

As COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out, learn about the science behind the different vaccines being produced in the U.S. and around the world. During session 1 of Mini Medical School: COVID-19: The Way Forward, University experts will discuss how the vaccines were developed, their safety and efficacy, vaccine resistance, and new variants of COVID-19. By attending the session, you’ll learn about the different types of COVID-19 vaccines, how they work, and how they will change as the virus evolves.

Speakers

Louis M. Mansky, PhD

Professor and Director of the Institute for Molecular Virology

Ana Núñez, MD, FACP

Professor, General Internal Medicine; Vice Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Jason Varin, RPh, PharmD

Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy

Kristin Hogquist, PhD

Moderator
Associate Director, Center for Immunology

Session 2: Advancing Health Equity During a Pandemic

Examining the social determinants of health—the environments in which people live, work, and age—is crucial to understanding the disparities COVID-19 has laid bare. People are losing their jobs and health insurance, and delaying needed health care. During session 2 of the University of Minnesota’s Mini Medical School: COVID-19: The Way Forward, a group of University experts will focus on how we must address these realities in the months and years ahead of us. By attending the session, you’ll learn about the intersection of COVID-19, economic downturn, racial disparities, and what you can do, and we can do collectively, to promote health, eliminate inequities, and envision a new kind of health care as a community.

Speakers

Lynn Blewett, PhD

Professor, Health Policy, School of Public Health; Director, State Health Access Data Assistance Center

Mary Owen, MD

Director, Center of American Indian and Minority Health; Assistant Professor, Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health

Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, PhD

Assistant Professor, Sociology and Minnesota Population Center

Roli Dwivedi, MD

Moderator
Assistant Professor, Family Medicine and Community Health; Chief Clinical Officer, Community-University Health Care Center

Speakers

Melissa Behl BSN, RN, PHN, CCM

Supervisor RN Care Coordination

Jayne Fulkerson, PhD

Professor, Child Family Health Cooperative; Director, Center for Child and Family Health Promotion Research, School of Nursing

Michael Kasprzak, DO

Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School

Tanya Melnik, MD

Assistant Professor, Medicine

Douglas Whiteside, PHD, ABPP/CN

Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine; Training Director, Clinical Neuropsychology Residency Program

Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Moderator
Associate Vice President for Clinical Affairs

COVID-19: The Way Forward

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