February 16, 2021—MEDICC Review editors and the University of Minnesota are organizing a second virtual forum, looking at lessons learned in Cuba and Minnesota for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar is slated for late April.
The first session in December brought together leaders in public health, medicine and nursing from Cuba and Minnesota, to share experiences from the frontlines on transmission control measures, as well as clinical care therapies and research on new vaccines. (See full program below.)
University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel addressed the virtual exchange.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D.-Minn.) closed the event. “We need to build on partnerships like this one to ensure that our medical communities benefit from the most up-to-date research & best practices for treating & preventing coronavirus, especially given the relatively low # of cases & deaths in Cuba,” she told participants.
UNDERSTANDING COVID-19: MINNESOTA-CUBA INNOVATIONS AND RESEARCH
A MEDICC Review/University of Minnesota Forum
Brief overview (time in video: 5:28)
COVID in Minnesota: Michael Osterholm PhD, MPH Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota.
COVID in Cuba: Francisco Durán, MD, National Director of Epidemiology, Havana
Containment: Schools and Universities (time in video: 26:23)
Cuba: Ileana Morales Suarez MD, MS National Director of Science and Technology Innovation at the Cuban Ministry of Public Health
Minnesota: Jakub Tolar MD, Dean of the Medical School, Vice President for Clinical Affairs, University of Minnesota
Clinical trials and vaccines: What is working? (time in video: 55:51)
Cuba: Dagmar García PhD, Director of Research, Finlay Vaccine Institute, Havana.
Minnesota: Tim Schacker MD, Vice Dean for Research, University of Minnesota Medical School
Clinical care during and after COVID (time in video: 1:26:41)
Cuba (Acute Care): Daniel González, MD, Director of Clinical Care, Pedro Kourí Tropical Medical Institute, Havana.
Minnesota (Post-Acute Care): Laura Reed, DNP, RN Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Operating Officer, MHealth Fairview.
