On the Frontlines of the Pandemic

By Dr. Tom Hanrahan, Editor

LVC Alumni Heroes Helping Treat and Fight COVID-19

Everyone worldwide has added stress, anxiety, new roles, and new ways to do things. I think everyone is a hero in that respect—adapting, learning, asking for help, fighting to provide for others. Everyone deserves gratitude right now.

—Dr. Nicole Caruso Dickson ’08, D’10

We interviewed alumni from various health professions—medicine, nursing, veterinary care, physical therapy, counseling, education, dentistry. Still, countless other LVC alumni were, and continue to be, at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19. Thank you from everyone at Lebanon Valley College to those included here and the many other alumni helping to keep us safe and recover.

All Hands on Deck

Lebanon Valley College has long had military connections. Ranging from working with Ft. Indiantown Gap to host and educate Vietnamese refugees in the early 1970s to losing several students, including 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Marcel von Bereghy, Class of 1918, during World War I, military service has been a core LVC value. Many alumni have made their way to medical school via the armed forces.

Dr. Eyako Kofi Wurapa ’90, one of five family members who are doctors, is the first of three LVC alumni featured here who followed a military medical path. Growing up in Ghana, West Africa, he was inspired to pursue a career in medicine from an early age.

“My father ran a medical outreach mission from his church,” he noted. “I was in contact with numerous missionary doctors and medical workers who volunteered there.”

Years later, after graduating from LVC, Wurapa earned his doctor of medicine degree from the Penn State College of Medicine. Then, he served in the U.S. Army and embarked on a career that enabled him to work on projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Madagascar. Wurapa also served four tours of duty with his Special Forces Unit 3rd SFG in Afghanistan.

Little did he know that after serving 23 years in the Army and earning the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit military awards, he would return to the mid-state area and soon be affected by a worldwide pandemic. In 2017, Wurapa entered private practice as a physician with Patient First and ComForCare Home Care in Maryland. Just three years into his private practice, COVID-19 hit the U.S.

“Working in an urgent care setting, I deal with walk-in patients so must treat everyone as though they have COVID-19 first,” said Wurapa, who also has master’s degrees in tropical medicine and epidemiology.

“Safety for my patients and family—our youngest child, Fafali, is four, and my father, Albert, who lives with us, is 93— is a paramount concern. Not having an effective treatment for the virus and having limited testing capabilities was frustrating at the onset.”

Despite these initial difficulties, Wurapa, a 2020 America’s Top Doctor, is optimistic. “I strongly know scientists will develop a vaccine soon. In the meantime, please, please get a flu shot this fall.”

We have to remain positive and know this too shall pass. If we continue to work together, from social distancing to developing a vaccine, we will prevail.

—Dr. Stuart J. Hartman ’07

Like Wurapa, Dr. Stuart J. Hartman ’07 comes from a family of physicians. His father, Dr. Stuart A. Hartman P’07, had a practice in Lebanon, Pa., and grandfather, Dr. Samuel A. Hartman ’48, practiced pediatrics, also in Lebanon.

“From a young age, I would go to work with my father,” shared the youngest Hartman doctor. “His caring and kind nature showed me how compassion could help heal even the sickest patients.

“His work inspired me, as did the mentorship and support of LVC faculty, especially my advisor, Dr. Stacy Goodman [chair of biology], and Dr. Dale Erskine and Dr. Allan Wolfe [both professors emerita of biology]. Everyone in the Biology Department was amazing.”

Today, Hartman is an internal medicine hospitalist with Keiser Permanente’s Southern California Permanente Medical Group in San Diego. He noted that the community has been tremendous throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our patients and families have been understanding, despite limited visitation privileges. They’ve been flexible, and many have transitioned to telemedicine, which has been a blessing despite having its challenges.

“The local community has provided medical supplies, adapting their business processes to help,” added Hartman. “Breweries and distilleries have made hand sanitizer, and clothing and furniture stores have made masks.”

And, like many of his fellow healthcare alumni, Hartman is optimistic about the future.

“We have to remain positive and know this too shall pass. If we continue to work together, from social distancing to developing a vaccine, we will prevail.” Continuing another tradition, Dr. Colleen O’Neill Segall ’10 was a biology major inspired by her LVC faculty, among other factors, to pursue a medical and military career. Recently promoted to Major in the U.S. Army, she earned her doctor of medicine in dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 2014.

Now, Segall, a member of the U.S. Army Dental Corps, is preparing to graduate from a civilian residency program in pediatric dentistry at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. She also helps staff dental clinics at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

“Many of the dental clinics in Dallas were closed for routine dental visits during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Segall. “However, we remained open at each site to handle dental emergencies, which meant we were busy. I’m glad we could serve as a safety net for so many children in the area. Treating patients gives me a sense of purpose.”

Though overall, the situation is improving in her area, Segall and her colleagues are still being very cautious.

“We have adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) under current circumstances but are being very cautious in how we reopen. We are spacing appointments and seeing fewer patients each day than we did pre-COVID. However, as we begin to ‘return to normal,’ acquiring adequate PPE has been a challenge for many healthcare facilities.”

Despite these challenges, Segall noted, “Our patients and families have been extremely understanding and respectful of hospital protocols and policies. This acceptance has made my job so much easier.”

Segall, who plans to return to Ft. Hood to care for the children of soldiers after her residency, “loves the happiness I gain from caring for our patients—the soldiers and their dependents. They are my heroes. I have their back, well, at least their teeth!”

I think the pandemic will ultimately yield positive changes to our system. It exposed several weaknesses and forced us to adapt.

—LCDR Daniel Hodge, M.D., ’09

LCDR Daniel Hodge, M.D., ’09 was also mentored by and conducted student-faculty research with LVC professors, particularly Dr. Timothy Peelen, associate professor of chemistry, while an Academic All-American on the men’s basketball team.

“Dr. Peelen was a great teacher who also understood the challenges of competing at very high levels academically and athletically. We spent countless hours in the lab together, eventually co-publishing an article, but his attendance at my basketball games showed he truly cared about his students. Though, he would sometimes mention a bad turnover or missed shot I had in the game the previous night,” added Hodge with a laugh.

“I didn’t realize the value of this intimate learning environment until I was in large lecture halls with more than 200 students at Eastern Virginia Medical School,” said Hodge, now a Lieutenant Commander with the U.S. Navy and multiple military award honoree.

Hodge has had to use the skills learned at LVC as an internist in the Navy during the COVID-19 pandemic. He plays numerous roles at his hospital in North Carolina, including primary care manager, inpatient hospitalist, and director of the Navy’s only cardiometabolic health and weight loss clinic.

“Two of our critical care doctors and several specialists were deployed to the USNS Comfort and to support a field hospital in New York City. Our hospital was operating with a skeleton crew since many of our active duty physicians and nurses were pulled to support the NYC mission,” said Hodge. “This forced the hospitalists to help design, implement, and manage the critical care COVID unit. The fear of the unknown was the most stressful aspect.

“It was weird to be tallying the number of available ventilators on your military base and asking Marine command to supply additional ‘Breaking Bad’ style gas masks so you can run the intensive care unit,” he added. “Fortunately, the military had adequate backup plans for any shortage.”

And, Hodge appreciated his wife, Alexandra Wolfe Hodge ’09, whom he met at LVC.

“At times, I think Alexandra had a more challenging task than I did during the pandemic,” he said. “She was a tremendous supporter during my military service and while taking care of our two young sons, Everett and Campbell.”

Originally scheduled to end his Navy service in June, Hodge’s plans to return home to start a primary care practice in Camp Hill, Pa., Fourth Tree Health, are temporarily on hold due to the COVID-19 situation.

“I went into internal medicine with a specific vision, but it’s funny how the journey shapes you,” said Hodge. “As I went further into my military medicine career and gained exposure to several civilian and military healthcare systems, I realized I didn’t want to work in a large, broken health system. Opening Fourth Tree Health, a Direct Primary Care practice, will enable me to develop deep, personal relationships with my patients in the coming months.

“I think the pandemic will ultimately yield positive changes to our system. It exposed several weaknesses and forced us to adapt.”

Hodge and Dr. Melanie A. Weller ’06 (above) have a mutual connection to Eastern Virginia Medical School, where Weller is an assistant professor of pediatrics and served a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship from 2015–18. She is now an attending physician in the same discipline at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Virginia, part of the medical school’s campus.

Weller first considered going into veterinary medicine but switched gears after experiencing a traumatic life event.

“Early in my LVC career, my mother was battling breast cancer,” said Weller. “The interactions she had with her physicians and other healthcare team members led me to think to become a physician was a better career path. I wanted to provide care to others, as we were cared for during mom’s illness.”

Weller also agrees that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a vital wakeup call.

“It made us look more closely at the way we plan and better evaluate disaster planning. This virus has been challenging as we are fighting a mostly unknown foe. Luckily, medical and scientific professionals provided us with continuing education to update the way we approach patients, workups, and treatments.

“I work with children who were initially not considered to be at great risk for COVID-19,” added Weller. “More recent information shows they may be at risk for other complications, so we are closely following as new information is shared and working hard to make sure we care for all our patients to the best of our abilities.”

Weller also offered words of advice and hope. “This pandemic has been hard on everyone, except maybe our dogs who are happy to have us home,” she said with a smile. “We need to keep adjusting and learning. I encourage you to help others when you can, find joy in the smaller things in life, and know that if we keep moving forward as a global entity and keep each other safe, this too will pass.”

Nearer to campus, Amanda Bostdorf McLaughlin, CRNP, ’03 and her nursing colleagues at UPMC Pinnacle Medical Group in Harrisburg have been severely affected by COVID-19. McLaughlin, who graduated from LVC with a degree in psychobiology in partnership with Thomas Jefferson College of Nursing, worked seven-days-a-week during the initial onslaught of the virus in the mid-state.

“We worked every day to assist with the setup of testing sites, in addition to our other responsibilities, the first two-three weeks straight," noted McLaughlin. "Probably the most difficult challenge was maintaining the same level of patient care while making sure no further harm befell our patients or staff.”

Thankfully, McLaughlin did not have to do it alone. t

“My work family and real family have become stronger than we thought possible. My husband, Matt, stepped in to care for our two-year-old, Sam, so I could work with COVID patients each day, which is very scary. My work team has been fantastic; they’ve been flexible and willing to process new material and research to provide the best care for our patients.

“I wasn’t able to see my parents, siblings, or friends for 15 weeks, and as I move into different levels of care for COVID patients, I may have to isolate myself again. But, it’s comforting to know that I wouldn’t be taking that on alone; I’d have our team. It’s been amazing how we lean on each other, whether it’s grieving or supporting.”

Also on the positive side, “This situation has provided a great opportunity to promote the benefits of telehealth or video visits with a provider,” added McLaughlin. “I anticipate this trend to continue post-COVID because it helps avoid bringing frail or immunocompromised patients into the office setting and exposing them to additional risks.”

Pre-COVID, McLaughlin supervised physician and nurse practitionerassistants at four convenient care, walk-in settings, buttwo of the offices were closed at the onset of COVID-19. Shequickly adapted, using the staff to perform nasopharyngealswabs on patients with possible COVID-19.

“We quickly jumped on theopportunity to help and werehonored to take on a new andcomplicated testing process,”said McLaughlin. “Every week,the procedures change as welearn more, so we continuallyadjust to improve as quicklyas possible.

“We have adequate PPE at our testing sites, but it’s a daily taskto ensure this continues, and there is still a shortage at othersites. However, our leadership was mindful of PPE managementfrom the start and excellent about educating the staff regardingconservation. Dr. John Goldman, the physician in charge ofour infectious disease and COVID-19 management, has been relentless in making sure the hospitals, outpatient sites, and staff are protected and educated with the latest information.”

As of mid-June, McLaughlin and her team were testing almost 100 patients daily. “We bring the patient into a negative pressure room to ensure the test is accurate and decrease the potential for a false negative. We’ve also expanded testing to pre-op patients to ensure they have a clear COVID status before their procedure, which also helps ensure staff safety.”

McLaughlin said she feels fortunate to be such an essential part of the community. “As a walk-in site in the city of Harrisburg, we have continued to be there for our patients. I’m impressed that our area was able to bend the curve and not overextend the hospitals amidst the pandemic.”

It is incredibly gratifying to see patients who were critically ill 'at death's door' walking and talking, exiting the hospital.

Stephen A. Teitelman B.S., B.S.N., R.N., ’92

Stephen A. Teitelman, B.S., B.S.N., R.N., ’92, flight nurse coordinator for Cooper University Health Care in Camden, N.J., is involved with COVID-19 patients for shorter periods than McLaughlin, but it’s equally as intensive.

“As a flight nurse, I have briefer interactions with COVID-19 patients than my in-hospital colleagues face daily,” said Teitelman. However, these interactions can take a toll. In debriefing after particularly rough situations, “We try to stress self-care first and foremost.” Nurses are required to wear uncomfortable PPE eight to 12 hours each day, often while witnessing horrible realities that instantly change peoples’ lives. The mental and physical stressors associated with caring for this population of patients are intense and allowing time to de-stress is vital to survival.

“It is sometimes part of the job to have tough conversations with family members regarding the care choices they have to make when relatives are critically ill,” added Teitelman who was named Nurse of the Year at Cooper University Health Care this year. “Having to use FaceTime for family members to say goodbye to their loved ones sometimes for the last time due to visitor restrictions is one of the saddest and harshest realities of this pandemic; thankfully one I have not had to experience personally.”

The COVID-19 crisis has affected Teitelman and his colleagues in various other ways, as well.

“Wearing PPE, though generally not for such extended periods, is not a new process for us. However, the sheer volume of patients, logistics of contamination and decontamination, and acuity of patients in one shift is not normal and requires an exhausting level of focus. At the end of a shift, many of us are exhausted beyond anything we’ve previously experienced.”

“Things have become better,” said Teitelman. “However, the healthcare community’s losses due to a lack of supplies are inexcusable and unconscionable. While my organization’s supplies were adequate, the country should never have lost any healthcare providers because there were insufficient N95 masks.”

Teitelman also has witnessed victories.

“It is incredibly gratifying to see patients who were critically ill ‘at death’s door’ walking and talking, exiting the hospital. There’s also been an increased appreciation from the lay public for what other nurses and I do.

There have been many signs, banners, and personal ‘thankyou’s’ from community members.

“It brings back memories of when I responded to New York City a few days after 9/11,” said Teitelman. “As we approached the city, the streets were lined with people clapping and cheering for first responders. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve experienced similar feelings when observing the public support that has arisen from this unprecedented time in our lives.”

Though McLaughlin, Teitelman, and others had sufficient PPE, healthcare systems throughout the country were not as fortunate.

According to Dr. Robert A. Bednarczyk (left), an assistant professor at the Hubert Department of Global Health at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Ga., the U.S. healthcare system faced two issues: a slow rollout of testing and a lack of PPE supplies.

“Because we weren’t able to test as many people as needed early on, we lost the ability to do effective contact tracing to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 transmission,” said Bednarczyk. Additionally, as hospitals began to see an influx of COVID-19 patients, their PPE supplies were limited, putting healthcare workers at risk of exposure. We need to do a better job at prioritizing preparedness planning, and not relegate preparedness to be perceived as an unnecessary overhead.”

Bednarczyk, who earned his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the State University of New York, University at Albany School of Public Health sees other challenges on the horizon.

“We still face insufficient access to testing and contact tracing. Relatedly, since we have only known about this virus since December 2019, there are a lot of unknowns regarding how transmission will continue during the summer, the risk of a fall resurgence peak, and other unanswered questions. My concern is that if transmission continues to decline, we will let our guard down and be unprepared for another round of high transmission.”

Conversely, how people in Atlanta responded to support businesses, especially restaurants, has impressed Bednarczyk.

“People have come together in this time of upheaval,” he said. “Many restaurants went to take-out only systems, and groups sprung up so individuals could donate money to buy large orders to donate to hospitals and healthcare workers. This community spirit speaks about our ability to work together and take care of each other, even in the most trying times.”

Bednarczyk noted, “There are numerous candidate vaccines in clinical trials already; that is a tremendous amount of progress since December. However, there is still much testing for safety and efficacy needed. I am hopeful that coordinated efforts across government, industry, and academia will result in relatively rapid vaccine development.

“I’m impressed by the resilience our healthcare system showed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as we move forward, we need more flexible and create adaptable pandemic plans to respond better.”

Flexibility was paramount for Dr. Jared D. Pitt ’08 as well.

Pitt decided to venture from his home state of New Jersey for college due to LVC’s “rigorous and renowned science department.” He had known since he was very young that he wanted to be a veterinarian and realized the College’s challenging, yet personal, curriculum would prepare him well for vet school.

“When I was about 8, I helped our local veterinarian deliver my aunt’s Siberian husky’s puppies, who were experiencing dystocia [a difficult birth],” said Pitt. “Holding the healthy puppies in my hands awakened something within me, a desire to pursue a career that could make me feel like that.”

It turns out, Pitt made the correct career—and college— decision.

“After surviving the science courses at LVC, my first year of veterinary school was a breeze. I even had the same textbook in my histology course at Tuskegee that I used in my cell and tissue biology course as an LVC junior,” noted Pitt. “I already had a wealth of knowledge compared to many of my classmates.”

After graduating from the Tuskegee University College of Medicine, Pitt returned to South Jersey to become an associate veterinarian at two local veterinary hospitals. Then, just before COVID-19 hit, he became an associate doctor at a brand new practice, Heart and Paw in Marlton, N.J.

“We had to cancel our grand opening due to the pandemic,” said Pitt. “This initially hurt business because we had to handle appointments, except euthanasia, curbside, and worry about patient safety. It was emotionally difficult for our pet owners and was more time-consuming for our staff. Fortunately, the business has recently started to increase.

“During the first few months of the pandemic, the local general practice hospitals stopped performing elective surgery, so we donated our PPE to human hospitals and doctor’s offices,” added Pitt. “More recently, we have been able to start up again, and have plenty of equipment to keep us safe.”

As a front line practitioner, Pitt has more than animals and their owners to consider.

“Clients have been mostly understanding. Everyone wants to be safe. I especially want to keep my son, J.D., and wife, Courtney, who is carrying our baby girl, Amelia, due in September, safe.”

Recovery

While so many LVC alumni are on the front line treating patients, many others are helping our country react and recover— whether through physical therapy, helping feed those who lost their jobs or are underemployed, or counseling those in need.

Dr. Nicole Caruso Dickson ’08, D’10 was a member of LVC’s field hockey team that qualified for the NCAA playoffs every year she was on the side, including two national semi-final appearances. She also starred academically in the College’s then-nascent Physical Therapy Program.

On the field, then-assistant field hockey coach Stacey Hollinger pushed Dickson to be a better player. Hollinger, now assistant director of athletics and senior women’s administrator, “had a knack for knowing every player’s potential and limits and how to help you achieve your personal best,” according to Dickson.

In the classroom, several faculty motivated Dickson, including Dr. Goodman, noted above, who “incorporated all learning styles into her lectures, making learning something abstract like physiology much more impactful.” She added, “Dr. Michael Lehr [clinical associate professor of physical therapy] brought a ton of energy to class, and Dr. Michael Fink [chair and associate professor of physical therapy] was just so impressively smart that I would leave class humbled and ready to study.”

Today, she uses the skills and dedication learned from her faculty and coaches in an acute care setting in the University of North Carolina (UNC) Health system, primarily on the orthopedic and trauma floors.

“COVID-19 has caused most people to forget that there are still people in the hospital for car accidents, gunshot wounds, and transplants,” noted Dickson. “It’s been nerve-wracking. Yet, it’s getting better as we learn more and have better access to PPE.”

Fortunately, UNC Health has taken steps to reduce the risk to patients and staff alike.

“I am part of a rotation that treats active COVID patients. We don the protective gear and enter the ‘hot zone,’ said Dickson. “There is a person at both ends of the donning and doffing stations to ensure every step is done in order since the donning/ doffing process is the most critical component of staying safe.

“We are only allowed in the ‘hot zone’ for two-hour periods because the gear is so hot, and the PPE makes it challenging to move and be heard. I often have to shout through the N95 and face shield. It’s easy to get dehydrated, but it’s rewarding to help the patients get strong enough to go home. They get pretty lonely with no visitors allowed, so we’re a bright spot in their day and hopefully a little inspirational.”

Dickson has also seen a positive change in the hospital’s culture.

“With visitor restrictions hospital-wide to keep us safe, the staff has been creative in providing for patients who are scared and hurting, which is rewarding. The frontline team is much more unified. I regularly see staff helping patients by donating chargers, video chatting with families of patients who are unable to do so, or using a physical therapy session to take a patient outside to see the sunshine after weeks in a hospital room.”

Dickson also continues LVC’s mission of service to others.

“My husband, Steve, and I do the grocery shopping and run errands for a neighbor who is in a high-risk category. It’s a simple thing, but it feels nice to give back.” She’s also teaching additional Facebook live fitness classes because of stay-at-home orders. “It’s fun to connect with friends from all over the country and provide an outlet for stress release, or curse me for the sweat and soreness I inflict on them,” she laughed.

“I struggle with being called a hero all the time,” said Dickson. “Everyone worldwide has added stress, anxiety, new roles, and new ways to do things. I think everyone is a hero in that respect—adapting, learning, asking for help, fighting to provide for others. Everyone deserves grace and gratitude right now.”

Trevor P. Dugan ’18 can relate to Dickson’s thoughts on stress, anxiety, and adopting new roles and ways of doing things. He’s a special education teacher who works with pediatric psychiatry students at Devereux Children’s Behavioral Health Services.

“The individuals in our care sometimes only know their world as the facility,” said Dugan. “Their knowledge of the ‘outside world’ is based on what they hear adults who care for them say. We are continually reassuring them they are safe, and that we are doing everything we can to make sure they remain safe and healthy.”

Dugan initially began his LVC career as a chemistry major then realized that teaching was his ideal path, so he switched to early childhood education. His advisor, Dr. Ann Berger-Knorr [associate professor of education], helped him with the change.

“Dr. Berger-Knorr worked with me to play catch up so I could graduate in 2018 with my friends, even though I was a year behind on courses,” said Dugan. “Together, we created an outline of what classes to take and when, and she never gave up on me.” Dugan also has fond memories of Dr. Dale Summers, retired professor of education. The duo worked on a project hosted by the Vernon and Doris Bishop Library, “The Human Library,” at several Symposia on Inclusive Excellence.

“The Bishop project enables community members to ‘checkout’ a person to learn more about their culture, beliefs, and lifestyle as a member of a marginalized group,” noted Dugan. “I presented what life was like as a transgender male at a school in a part of Pennsylvania that is typically considered ‘conservative.’

“Later, with Dr. Summers, we held a workshop where I was interviewed about my experiences as a transgender teacher. I think it was eye-opening to those who attended to see that even at a progressive school like LVC, there can still be bias and discrimination, especially in some of the communities where student teachers trained.”

These experiences and mentors have helped Dugan work with his pediatric psychiatry students during the COVID-19 crisis.

“I worked on-site until early April then quickly became adept with virtual teaching tools,” said Dugan. “We now work as a team more than ever. Teachers, residential staff, clinicians, and clients, most of all, are struggling with remote learning. But, our recent implementation of Zoom has helped. Being able to see their teacher’s faces gives students a sense of normalcy.”

Danielle Vernet Eisner ’95, ’96, M’19 has faced similar challenges teaching remotely during COVID-19 as a biology, anatomy, and physiology teacher at Cedar Cliff High School in the West Shore School District.

“When you have connections with your kids, it is tough on everyone when they can’t hear your voice or see your face anymore,” said Eisner, who added a third LVC degree last year, a master of science in STEM education. “I decided to communicate via video, starting with a YouTube post sharing how much I missed them.”

Next, showing real dedication, Eisner reached out to each of her students with a personal letter.

“They probably thought I was odd addressing about 100 letters, but I felt it would be more effective than social media. Next, knowing they needed to hear my voice, I started making videos of all my lessons and held some Zoom meetings. The feedback from the students was that it was beneficial.

“Some of the students had issues, such as taking care of a sick family member or babysitting siblings,” she added. “A few parents reached out who were worried about their child being depressed or just not understanding the subject matter. I visited about five kids at their homes and brought a whiteboard to teach them from about 20 feet away. I saw remarkable changes in those students and only wish I could have done it for all of them. I was acting with my heart.”

Eisner’s son, Austin Cassatt ’21, also chose LVC to study science. A John Bowman Allwein Scholar, Austin selected The Valley over such schools as MIT, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins University. “LVC was the perfect fit,” according to Eisner.

Much like Valley students, Eisner’s students miss being in school and learning.

“They miss our interactions and that personal connection,” said Eisner. “Some students have reached out to thank me, and it breaks my heart. I need to continue to look out for the 100 kids who need me, and my five children at home. This disruption has not been easy for anyone.”

Those who have been disrupted by COVID-19 and other inevitable disasters that occur despite the pandemic can also turn to the American Red Cross for assistance.

“Communities across the country count on the American Red Cross for help every day,” said Hope Roaten ’09, executive director of the Mid-Central Pennsylvania Chapter. “Our work must continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve worked to collect and distribute thousands of convalescent products, which are potentially life-saving for critically ill COVID-19 patients.”

Roaten, who has deployed to six national Disaster Relief Operations, added that Red Cross has ramped up its anti-hunger work during the crisis.

“Our chapter partnered with the YMCA of Centre Country through their Anti-Hunger Program to deliver meals to individuals and families in Centre and Clearfield counties,” said Roaten. “To date, our teams have contributed more than 300 hours of service to transport nearly 18,000 meals.”

This assistance is in addition to ongoing disasters that are inevitable. Since February, Roaten noted that Red Cross workers have helped more than 53,000 people recover from more than 13,000 home fires. “The current pandemic is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” said Roaten. “Everyone has been impacted in some way; it’s an emergency in our backyards and the backyards of people around the world.

“This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone, especially those who have lost a loved one due to COVID-19. To those suffering in any way, please know that the American Red Cross developed a Virtual Family Assistance Center (VFAC). Visit redcross.org/VFAC to access virtual programs, receive information and referrals, and connect to community resources.”

The performances are about bringing people together to foster connection. the success of the porch concert series has proven that we impact far more people than we ever know.

—Andy Kittleson ’15

Food for the Soul

Music is often said to be “Food for the Soul.” Music education and music double major Andy Kittleson ’15 has taken the message to heart.

An instrumental music teacher in the Wayne Central School District in New York, Kittleson also directs a community band to bring music to people who could not otherwise come to performances; people residing in nursing homes, for example.

Inspired by a project started by Band Directors Talk Shop, Kittleson found a creative way to spread the joy of music during the COVID-19 pandemic. He created a series of Porch Concerts in which he performs on trombone.

“Suddenly, people were unable to attend live performances,” he said. “I love bringing music to the people, and thought it would be an excellent way to engage and inspire my students.”

Kittleson planned to perform a song each weekday until the end of the school year, but it’s been so successful he’s continued the concerts one night per week throughout the summer.

“So far, I have done 64 concerts,” he said. “I plan to keep doing them in some form until we can return to school.

“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” added Kittleson. “I’ve met neighbors I never knew. And, though I play trombone, I’m now known as the neighborhood ‘trumpet player.’”

Kittleson’s music is bringing out the best in his neighbors.

“Adhering to social distancing, I hosted a 20-person concert band on my front lawn, and the outpouring of gratitude from the neighborhood was incredible. People who I had never spoken to offered their yards and driveways for parking.

“The performances are about bringing people together to foster connection. The success of the Porch Concert series has proven that we impact far more people than we ever know. Indeed, I had no idea that my music reached LVC!”

Food Insecurity

In addition to educational and health challenges, families are increasingly suffering from food insecurity due to the record unemployment/underemployment caused by COVID-19. Shila Williams Ulrich ’05, along with an army of volunteers including LVC students and alumni, is taking this challenge head-on as the executive director of The Caring Cupboard, a food pantry aiding the Palmyra, Annville, and Cleona areas.

According to Ulrich, The Caring Cupboard typically welcomes 12 new families to receive assistance each month. In March 2020, that number rose to 39 families. In April 2020, the number hit 50. Ulrich and her volunteers have responded with increased capacity, creating a new food delivery system in collaboration with Hershey Medical Center and the WellSpan Philhaven ACT program.

“The greatest challenge and threat to our organization is food procurement,” noted Ulrich, who also has a master’s in social work from Temple University and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. “With the hoarding that occurred at the start of the pandemic, finding canned food and other shelf-stable items was challenging and scary.” Ulrich also had to deal with the safety of her volunteers who contribute about 20,000 hours of service each year, many of them older adults who are at high risk for COVID-19.

“The Caring Cupboard uses a choice pantry model during ‘normal’ times, which means users shop for their items,” said Ulrich. “We changed our delivery model to a drive-through service while relying on fewer volunteers. We’ve had some great, new people jump in to help and, we’re fortunate to have excellent community support.”

Much of that support during the COVID-19 crisis and throughout the years has included LVC students and alumni, including Dave Warner, Esq., ’03 and Kristine Daiber Warner ’03. Dave is the pantry’s solicitor and Kristine is the past board chair for the organization; both are long-time supporters.

And, her biggest supporter and encourager also happens to be a two-time LVC graduate—her husband, Derek Ulrich ’05, ’09.

“The sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau did a very successful food drive with us and numerous alumni have helped,” said Ulrich. “There are likely many names I’m forgetting.

But, Jasmine Ammons Bucher ’97, M’11, P’14, P’23 and her family; Andrea Moody ’93 and her son, Chad ’24, an incoming first-year student; Wes Dellinger ’75, P’05; Amy Hoopes Dellinger ’78, P’05; Jen ’92, M’00 and Karl Liedtka ’91 and their sons; Dr. Eileen Dwyer Smith ’05, D’07; and Walt Smith ’03 are frequent supporters.

“We have been touched by the outpouring of support and kindness from our community,” added Ulrich. “Our donations are at an all-time high. People want to help and mobilize. I’ve had so many people ask how they can support us; it’s been heartwarming.”

Ulrich also appreciates the guidance of faculty like Dr. Deanna Dodson, professor of psychology, and former professor Dr. Kerrie Smedley, who now runs a private clinical practice in Annville.

“I knew I wanted to ‘save the world’ when I came to LVC,” said Ulrich. “Without these two dynamic ladies, I would not be where I am today.

“I recently had a woman who was out of work tell me she sat in her car and cried because of the amount of food we were able to provide to her family. It’s being able to help families like hers—in good times and bad—that enables The Caring Cupboard to ‘save the world’ one family at a time.”