Equipped to Serve in Medicine

THE GENEVA COVID-19 RESPONSE

Equipped to Serve in Medicine

By Judith (Campbell ‘14) Dinsmore

Dr. Athena Kantartzis Petrides ’07 didn’t talk The most difficult aspect of the crisis has been much to her family during the first two weeks of the balancing the important demands of caring for her COVID-19 outbreak in March. family. “I felt and still feel an immense sense of As Medical Director of Pathology Informatics at responsibility with every decision I make, so it has Brigham and Women’s Hospital been difficult to find pockets of time in Boston, Petrides and her team throughout the day when I can get were tasked with supporting the out of that headspace and focus on development of new methodologies my children. We are still taking each of testing for the novel coronavirus, day as it comes,” she concludes. working with other laboratories to move as many tests through as God is in Control possible. Even as Petrides worked long hours “It has been very challenging,” Petrides says. Her team was also involved in setting up multiple collection sites in the Greater Boston area and supporting lab testing for Boston Hope, a temporary 1,000- bed hospital. “Thankfully, my work hours are now less than what they Dr. Athena Kantartzis Petrides ’07 to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, she was also keenly aware of human limits. “Even though policy makers, hospital systems and scientists around the world have been doing their best to deal with the pandemic, it is very clear that they are not in control. God is in control.” used to be,” she continues. But the responsibilities Jim Bellante ’91 agrees. A nurse working in Pittsburgh are still intense. “We are now working on reimagining both on the medical oncology floor of UPMC Shadyside our laboratory workflows and patient-facing services hospital on the weekends and for Bridges Hospice to ensure that we offer a safe and highly productive during the week, former Golden Tornadoes football environment for our staff and patients.” star Bellante says the pandemic has not changed his

work beyond added cautionary measures. The Even though policy makers, hospital systems and scientists around “ backgrounds, provides information that exception was one visit in early the world have been doing their best to could be helpful in informing the Policy March. This particular patient deal with the pandemic, it is very clear Group as they make decisions. was being tested for COVID-19, but that they are not in control. The college’s Policy Group then takes the results hadn’t that information and come in yet. “I God is in control.” applies it to specific had to go see the challenges Geneva patient,” Bellante may encounter.” says. “That day I had a lot of fear.” Supplying information is not easy. The greatest But in the car on the way there, a song came on - “God difficulty to responding to COVID is that no one knows Is in Control.” the natural history of this virus yet, McDonald explains. “The last line of that song is ‘all is well with my soul.’ It And yet, from her expertise, she is confident that Geneva just couldn’t have been more perfect timing,” Bellante is preparing well. “They have done a phenomenal job of says. “I went into that visit totally fearless and just preparing for students to return,” she says. The campus’ reassured.” And when the test results came back for small size is a “huge benefit” because it will be less the patient, they were negative. challenging to keep students safe by implementing social “Our role is not to make decisions distancing measures as well as tracking new cases that Knowing What to Believe may potentially arise. Prevention, quickly identifying In the end, the biggest challenge COVID-19 posed cases and exposures, and containing further spread is the for Bellante was one most US residents can relate to: general template for reducing infections, and Geneva is knowing “what to believe and what not to believe,” he prepared at every level.” says. “Parents and students should feel That’s a challenge individuals face safe resuming classes because I truly as well as institutions like Geneva believe in my heart that Geneva College. is doing everything it can to keep Confronted with uncertainty last students, faculty and the surrounding spring, Geneva brought together community safe,” McDonald says. a COVID-19 Advisory Council, a “Will there be cases? It’s likely. Will group of seven medical experts and an outbreak get out of control and regional leaders, who are meeting at cripple the campus? Based on the pivot points as the college plans for procedures that Geneva is working the upcoming academic year. on, no, I do not think that scenario is likely.” or even to directly advise,” explains Although McDonald studied Pamela (McCracken ’10) McDonald, infectious diseases, she never wanted a member of the council that also includes Athena Petrides. McDonald, Pamela (McCracken ’10) McDonald to research a pandemic like this. It is surreal, she says, to have your field who after graduating from Geneva in Biology received be needed so desperately for the first time in decades. a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins “I am thankful that God led me down this path so that I Medical Institute with a concentration in infectious can help others and try to protect others,” she reflects. diseases, continues, “The council, all coming from “But I hope I don’t have to apply it too many more different medical and public health professional times in my life!” G