Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 14, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
The pace of life is picking up quickly due to the warmer weather. We’ve been through a lot over this past year and, like you, I’m eager to return to something close to normal.
As wonderful as it is to be engaging with one another again, please remember that we must continue to observe public health COVID-19 protocols. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, though we’re not there just yet. Stay vigilant. Together as Buckeyes, we will come through the other side of this stronger and more united...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President and Harold L. Paz, MD, Executive Vice President and Chancellor for Health Affairs and CEO, Wexner Medical Center | April 13, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
We are writing to provide an important update on the use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.
Earlier today and out of an abundance of caution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a pause in the use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine due to the development of a rare blood clotting disorder along with low platelet counts in six patients who have received this vaccine. These patients are all females between ages 18 and...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President and Bruce A. McPheron, PhD, Executive Vice President and Provost | April 9, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Our plans to reinvigorate campus life this fall are taking shape as we look forward to an autumn semester of engaged classroom learning, thriving student activities and community events that bring us together, and we need your help to reactivate our Ohio State traditions.
First, we’re writing to share more details and to ask every eligible student, faculty and staff member to be vaccinated and to follow all other safe and healthy guidelines. We will always base decisions on evidence-based public health guidance and the state of...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 5, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Spring is finally here! It’s a time to celebrate new beginnings as we shake off winter and embrace the warmth and opportunities of the season. A wide variety of traditions and religions celebrate at this time; whatever your beliefs or practice, I hope you have had – or will have – a joyful and peaceful holiday.
COVID-19 update, expanded testing, town hall
This spring, of course, is particularly special, as it brings with it hope that we might finally be coming out the other side of the coronavirus pandemic. But even...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 1, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I write today with exciting news.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced guidelines for employer-based vaccine programs starting the week of April 12. Beginning that week and consistent with those guidelines, we are pleased to announce the ability to dedicate 25% of the Wexner Medical Center’s first-dose vaccine allocation to any Ohio State student, faculty or staff member, while maintaining our commitment to our patients and the central Ohio community. This is possible because of the increasing number of doses available to the Wexner Medical Center and...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | March 30, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Public health is in a better place than it was during the winter peak, when hospitalizations, deaths and cases from the pandemic skyrocketed. Importantly, anyone 16 and older can now receive a vaccine in Ohio.
There is much reason for optimism. Yet, COVID-19 still poses a threat and we must not allow anything to slow our progress in the fight against the virus. At this moment in the pandemic, it’s important to redouble our efforts so that nothing disrupts our plans for a better summer and fall....
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | March 25, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
We were excited to welcome U.S. President Joe Biden to our campus this week – and share with him just some of what makes Ohio State such an incredible place for teaching and learning, research and scholarship, community outreach and patient care.
The nation’s 46th president visited the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute to tour the Department of Radiation Oncology and provide remarks about the importance of access to health care. The visit came just days after our...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | March 17, 2021
Dear Students, I am delighted to share some exciting news! On May 9, we plan to celebrate the incredible collegiate achievements of the class of 2021 in person at commencement — the first in-person ceremony since December 2019. To allow for a safe celebration with physical distancing, we will hold two spring ceremonies on May 9 with no more than 13,500 attendees at each event. While the ceremonies in Ohio Stadium will maintain many of our proud traditions, health and safety guidelines mean that certain elements will need to change. We are partnering with state and local health officials on...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | March 16, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
This month I have made two visits to our COVID-19 vaccination site at the Schottenstein Center – first to receive my inaugural dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and then again to greet Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and connect with our health care professionals, facilities support staff and volunteers. What an impressive operation! I am so proud of the efficiency, ingenuity and care that has ensured this vital undertaking is successful.
Here’s an amazing statistic to consider: Through yesterday, our Wexner Medical Center had administered more than 89,000 total vaccinations. This effort, in...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | March 9, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
At Ohio State and around the world, we have been seeing hopeful signs of renewal and reasons for optimism. There’s a new vaccine – the single dose version created by Johnson & Johnson and approved by the FDA for emergency use. We had an early taste of spring weather that brought us out onto the Oval and other favorite campus spots. There are even plans to allow for limited fans – with public health restrictions in place – at the Big Ten basketball championships.
Each day brings new opportunities to expand Ohio State’s...
