Cancelled!

August 19, 2021

Dear Fellow Alumni, Faculty, Residents, & Advanced Practice Providers:

Over 2 years ago, in the Spring of 2019, we started to develop plans for a grand Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of our University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Program, which would bring our graduates back to Cincinnati for this reunion. As the very first residency training program in Emergency Medicine, founded in 1970, we have had a long and proud tradition of training the very best emergency physicians in the world. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted travel and made large gatherings virtually impossible, we postponed our October 2020 50th Anniversary Celebration and Symposium and moved it to the Fall of this year, September 30-October 3, 2021.

As you are now aware, the Delta variant of COVID-19 has now brought a wave of new cases across the United States and the world. At the current infection rate, soon the country is expected to be experiencing over 200,000 new COVID-19 each day, primarily caused by the Delta variant. Many of you are actively involved in this most recent surge and know firsthand the impact of these infections on your own health care systems, family, and friends.

After extensive discussions with our team, leaders of the College of Medicine, and the Dean, we have come to the conclusion and truly regret that we must cancel this Fall’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and Symposium, scheduled for September 30-October 2021. We have significant concerns that despite vaccinations, breakthrough infections could put our alumni and their family members, as well as their patients once returning home after the Celebration, at significant risk for infection. We feel that emergency physicians, particularly our alumni, should be outstanding examples of behavior which minimizes the spread of COVID-19 nationally and internationally.

We know that this decision has significant impact on you and your travel plans for this Fall so we are contacting you as soon as possible so you can cancel your plane, hotel, and restaurant reservations. We SINCERELY APOLOGIZE for this inconvenience but hope you will understand the need for our decision.

Thank you so much for your support of our University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Training Program and Department. Your support means everything to us – our Faculty, Residents, and Staff. Despite the 50th being cancelled, we look forward to seeing everyone at our 55th. Please let us know if you have any questions and stay safe during this incredibly difficult time.

Sincerely,

Art Pancioli, MD (Chair 2010 - present)

W. Brian Gibler, MD (Chair 1995-2010)

Richard C. Levy, MD (Chair 1977-1994)