University of Denver and National Jewish Health Partner to Safeguard the Health of Staff and Students

The University of Denver and National Jewish Health announce a new partnership today to help with the safe return to campus for students and faculty for the fall term. National Jewish Health will serve as the strategic health care partner for DU. The two organizations will work together to develop and refine monitoring, testing, isolation and contact-tracing protocols, all aimed at preparing for the return of students and expanded staffing on campus in the coming weeks and months.

Multiple task forces comprised of DU faculty and staff have worked for months planning for a safe return to face-to-face classes. Their recommendations follow the guidance from public health officials and are mindful of those in the DU community who might have health complications with a return to campus. Now, doctors and researchers from National Jewish Health will review and refine the recommendations of the reopening plan and will work closely with the DU community as a strategic health partner, including testing, tracing, and treating the DU community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health, safety and well-being of everyone in our community is at the forefront of our planning,” says DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “And, bringing National Jewish Health, the leading respiratory hospital in the nation, on board to collaborate on how our community returns to campus is key to a safe return.  We are excited to have them on board.”

“We appreciate the tremendous work that DU has done in identifying protocols, procedures and policies to ensure the health and safety of their entire community as students return to classes,” says Michael Salem, MD, president and CEO of National Jewish Health. “And, we are honored to collaborate with our DU colleagues and add our medical expertise to what has already been accomplished, as we work together to meet the needs of students, teachers and staff as they return to in-person education.”

National Jewish Health brings a long history of care and research into respiratory, cardiac and immune-related issues. They responded quickly to the onset of the pandemic, creating focused acute care and recovery clinics for children and adults suffering from COVID-19.  In addition, they developed multiple diagnostic testing platforms for both the virus and antibodies to the virus.  They turned their research focus to the task of finding treatments and understanding this new virus. This expertise in testing, developing protocols, and assessing care needs will be part of the services brought to DU by National Jewish Health experts.

National Jewish Health also works closely with their clinical partner Saint Joseph Hospital and supports the critical care needs of hospitals across five western states including Colorado. They also work closely with Respiratory Institute® partners at Mount Sinai in New York and Jefferson Health in Philadelphia.

DU anticipates sharing additional detailed steps and protocols for campus reopening plans following this next phase of preparation work that will be accomplished with National Jewish Health.