COVID-19 Hijacks Spring 2020

Many of us first heard a severe respiratory illness called COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan China early in the year. By mid-February 2020, we learned a cluster of positive cases occurred in a Kirkland care home for the elderly in Washington state. This was just the beginning.

March 14 was the date of Hawaii’s first documented case of COVID-19 on the island of Kauai. Our worst fears were realized. The epidemic was now called a global pandemic by the WHO. Social behaviors must change to mitigate exposure to a highly transmissible virus. As a precaution, faculty at University of Hawaii Manoa classes moved all classes online after spring break. Everyone was hopeful we would return to in-person classes after April 23.

By the first week in April, positive COVID-19 cases continued to increase in Hawaii. It became clear that the rest of spring 2020 would be online. Except for essential workers, Governor Ige placed all of Hawaii under a stay-at-home order. For the first time in collective memory, a global pandemic disrupted work, school, travel, commerce, pretty much everything. For the Medical Technology program, all instruction moved online, even labs for parasitology and blood banking.

Faculty had to adopt the use of multi-media platforms very quickly. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Classrooms and more were used to teach the rest of spring 2020. Our faculty meeting moved online using Zoom. Here is a screen shot of our first faculty meeting via Zoom to prove we can adapt to digital technology.

Our seniors graduated but there was no marching to the cadence of Pomp and Circumstance during commencement. Normally, there would be 10,000 people gathered at the Stan Sheriff Center for commencement exercises. Instead, UHM graduates were left to plan their own gatherings of less than ten people while observing social distancing. Life continues in the time of COVID-19 with everyone conscious that SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still possible. Events may be cancelled but we won’t cancel our joy and celebration of Medical Technology student accomplishments. Congratulations to our graduates and a virtual hug to all. Here is a carousel featuring six of our graduating seniors.

Li Deng

Miki Harp

Nadine Pilande

Alyssa Pascua

Analisa Mikami

Joshua Tolentino

Audrey Tseng