March 24 - One alum’s circuitous journey; student triumphs over misfortune

Anteater Time Machine: On the heels of Match Day, an aerial view of UCI medical school buildings in 1969.

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

No UCI Digest on Friday

In observance of the Cesar Chavez holiday, this newsletter will take Friday off, returning Monday. Earlier this week, UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., issued a message celebrating Chavez’s legacy.

Alumnus Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval took a winding path back to his roots.

A circuitous journey leads alumnus back to his roots

The fascinating story of Fresno State University president – and UCI alumnus – Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, who zips around his campus on a Razor scooter, includes learning English from Carpenters’ songs, dancing in Ballet Folklórico de UCI and following a winding path that eventually led back to his Central California roots.

Examining the role of religion in public health

Although religious beliefs and faith systems can “powerfully influence how people view, interpret and pursue health,” public health researchers too often ignore the role of spirituality, says UCI doctoral student Biblia Cha. In an essay in this month’s Program in Public Health newsletter, she suggests that filling that research gap could improve public health efforts.

Campus eucalyptus trees set for removal

As part of a campus program to gradually replace unhealthy and hazardous eucalyptus trees with native California plants, UCI will remove eucalyptus along Academy Way, Crawford Athletics Complex, Campus Drive and inside Aldrich Park between now and September. Remaining eucalyptus trees will be professionally pruned.

UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS

COVID-19 ‘Test to Treat’ locations

State health officials have published a new list of pharmacies offering free COVID-19 medications (antiviral pills) as part of the federal government's Test to Treat program. At Test to Treat locations, people who test positive for COVID-19 may receive prescriptions for the free pills, if the treatment is deemed appropriate for them.

EVENTS

Making Colonoscopies ‘Smarter’ With Artificial Intelligence
Monday, 7 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Health and Newport Beach Public Library Foundation)

Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.

UCI IN THE NEWS

Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.

Gas money: Is it better to send out checks or suspend a tax?

CalMatters, March 24
Cited: David Neumark, Distinguished Professor of economics

The world that Putin wants

The Hill (op-ed), March 23
Co-author: Jeffrey S. Kopstein, professor of political science

Apodaca: Whether faced with our own or someone else’s, there are techniques for coping with anger

Daily Pilot (column), March 23
Cited: Raymond Novaco, professor of psychological sciences

#UCICONNECTED

Student’s triumphant spirit outweighs misfortune

When people ask Andrew Norman how he can be so happy when his life has been such a nightmare, he replies, “There is always someone else suffering more than me. I basically grew up in a children's hospital so, my whole life, I have been around innocent children who are suffering and I know that being angry or sad about my situation doesn't benefit me or anyone around me.”

Norman, the youngest of nine adopted children, says “challenge accepted” is his motto “because no matter what life throws at me, it's just a challenge that I can overcome with determination and positivity.”

#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.

COVID-19 NOTIFICATION AND RESOURCES

Three new campus cases

On Wednesday, UCI recorded a trio of new cases of COVID-19: One student and two employees. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.

Upload your vaccine and booster records

Student Record Upload

Employee Record Upload

Potential workplace exposure

UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.

For COVID-19 questions

UCI Forward - information on campus status and operational updates

UCI Health COVID-19 Updates - important information related to UCI Health

UCI Health COVID-19 FAQs

UCI Coronavirus Response Center - available at covid19@uci.edu or via phone at (949) 824-9918

Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services - assistance with vaccines and vaccine uploads; available at contacttracing@uci.edu or via phone at (949) 824-2300

Program in Public Health chatline - answers to questions about COVID-19

For questions specific to your personal health situation, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.