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Dear MD/PhD students,</div>
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Following the messages you received from Dean Chin and Interim Dean Chan, I wanted to reach out to you directly. For anyone who may be reading this as the first they're hearing of it, I'm so sorry to be sharing such painful news this way: we lost Jaclyn Rittershaus last
night in a motor vehicle accident.</div>
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There is no way to make sense of news like this, and no right way to be feeling right now. Shock, grief, numbness, anger; whatever you're carrying, it belongs here, and you don't have to carry it alone.</div>
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I want to be clear about one thing above all else: the entire MD/PhD team and I are here for you. That isn't a formality. If you need to talk, sit with someone, step away from your work, or just not be alone for a while, please reach out - to me, to any of
us.</div>
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I will be physically here all day today, and every day this week. My door is open (WSK 2237a). If you'd rather talk by phone or just need to reach me, you can call my cell anytime at (518) 637-6485.</div>
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Upstate also has additional support available for anyone who needs it, and I'd encourage you to use it:</div>
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<div role="presentation">Student Counseling Services: 315-464-3120</div>
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<div role="presentation">Student Health Office: 315-464-4260</div>
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<div role="presentation">Upstate's Spiritual Care Office: 315-464-4687</div>
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<div role="presentation">Employee Mental Health and Support Services: 315-464-5760</div>
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<div role="presentation">4KARE (24-hour support services): 315-464-5273</div>
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Please don't hesitate to use any of these. Leaning on support right now is a sign of strength, not weakness.</div>
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We will get through this together. Please take care of yourselves and of each other.</div>
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With care,</div>
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<b>Adam T. Waickman, PhD</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-transform: none;">Director, MD/PhD Program</span></div>
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Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology</div>
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SUNY Upstate Medical University</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">766 Irving Avenue</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Syracuse, NY 13210</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Phone: 315-464-7958</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Email: </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215);"><a href="mailto:waickmaa@upstate.edu" title="mailto:waickmaa@upstate.edu" data-outlook-id="6a0d8534-5cf1-470d-92ab-741c44467710" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><u>waickmaa@upstate.edu</u></a></span></div>
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