COVID-19 and Our Center Letter
Dear Friends, Patients, Colleagues:
The Mesulam Center is following all COVID-19 guidelines received from Northwestern University, the Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Northwestern Medical Group. Consequently, the vast majority of our faculty and staff are working remotely, the PPA Conference, Round Table meetings, Thursday Seminars, the 26th Annual AD-Day, and the Mendelson Lecture have been cancelled, research sessions that include human subjects have been halted, clinic visits for patients have been largely suspended, and the front desks at the Neurobehavior Clinic and Tarry 8 are empty and accessible only by calling the main numbers.
But the Mesulam Center is not idling. We are serving an increasing number of patients through telemedicine modalities, dissertation committees for graduate students are convening online, individual research groups on Primary Progressive Aphasia, SuperAging, Clinical Trials, Neuropathology, Imaging, Alzheimer’s Disease remain active through collaborative chat platforms, grant renewal applications are being crafted remotely by relevant faculty and staff, research papers are being written, and weekly video conferences have been scheduled for clinicians (Wednesday afternoon), Tarry 8 staff (Tuesday morning), and the Mesulam Center Faculty and Executive Committee (Thursday afternoon). No Center member and no activity is on furlough. We are even looking into holding our monthly Pizza Day online. There is a prize for the most creative suggestion.
As you can see, we are determined to adapt to the COVID-19 realities. The required retooling of operations would not have been possible without the incredible devotion and creativity of all staff members, faculty and students. Emily Rogalski, Associate Director of the Mesulam Center, and Thongsy Singvongsa, Mesulam Center Administrator, have led the way in effecting this reorganization and will be assisting me through the challenging times that lie ahead.
This is the way things stand at the writing of this letter on March 21, the first day of spring 2020. Stay healthy and help others stay healthy. I am available at anytime to address questions you may have.
Marsel Mesulam, MD
Director, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease