The National Society of Leadership and Success Launches COVID-19 Webinar Series featuring Dr. Martin Makary and Dr. Justin M. Sacks During Initial Discussion

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)—the nation's largest leadership honor society—is launching a free COVID-19 webinar series titled "Lead From Home" this Wednesday, March 25 at 3 p.m. EST. In partnership with doctors—including Dr. Martin Makary and Dr. Justin M. Sacks—and college administrators, the series aims to address the fatal medical implications of refusing to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 virus outbreak, explain how college administrations are handling the delivery of educational services during the pandemic and give a platform for the public to ask questions.

"Universities across the country have taken tremendous steps by suspending in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester to encourage social distancing, but we've seen students—and young adults across the country—ignore the advice of health professionals and their local government," said NSLS President Charles Knippen. "We're hoping our webinar will shed light on the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, help college administrators understand what's happening nationally on campuses and drive participants to do the right thing: stay home."

The NSLS issued a survey to members about COVID-19 and received more than 14,000 responses in just six hours. Survey results found:

• Only 25% of members believe their college peers are taking the situation very seriously
• Several weeks into college campuses shutting down, 36% of those polled already believe this situation has impacted their mental health seriously or very seriously
• Nearly 60% of members are experiencing more stress
• Of those who responded, more than 20% still went on Spring Break in 2020

The first webinar of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25 at 3 p.m. EST and will include a panel discussion featuring Dr. Makary, Dr. Sacks, college administrators and a college student with the COVID-19 virus (see bios below). Viewers can watch the panel discussion on Facebook. Questions can be submitted—in advance of or during the webinar—by emailing Devin Lasker at broadcast@nsls.org or using #LeadFromHome and #theNSLS.

• Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H. is a Johns Hopkins surgeon, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE PRICE WE PAY and a Fox News medical contributor. Dr. Makary has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine and named one of America's 20 Most Influential People in Healthcare by HealthLeaders Media. He has published more than 250 scientific research articles focusing on healthcare costs, quality science and vulnerable populations. He is the author of The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It, which is out now; Mama Maggie: One Woman's Mission to Love the Forgotten Children of Egypt's Garbage Slums; and Unaccountable, which was turned into the TV series The Resident. You can follow him at MartyMD.com or @MartyMakary.
  
  
• Justin M. Sacks, M.D., MBA, Division Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Previously, Dr. Sacks was Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Director of Oncological Reconstruction in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Sacks completed medical school at Mount Sinai School for Medicine in New York, followed by fellowships at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
  
  
• Scott Peska, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Student Services at Waubonsee Community College. At Waubonsee, Dr. Peska oversees athletics, testing services, access center for disability resources, registration and records and financial aid. He previously served as dean for students from 2012 to 2018. Prior to Waubonsee, Peska worked at Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in various student affairs roles.
  
  
• Kathryn T. Hutchinson, Ph.D., Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs at St. John's University. Dr. Hutchinson leads St. John's University in strategic planning, assessment and fiscal management. She is a psychologist with more than 17 years of experience in senior leadership, research and clinical work in the university setting. Dr. Hutchinson presents nationally and internationally on crisis management and college student mental health, specializing in training faculty and administrators to manage students in distress.
  
  
• Connor McLaughlin, Massachusetts native and junior at Sacred Heart University

"It is imperative for younger generations to realize the practice of social distancing is to benefit older generations, like their parents or grandparents," Dr. Sacks said. "Most young people have strong enough immune systems to fight the virus but going out in public and ignoring precautions could gravely impact our country's vulnerable population."

Updates on future webinars can be found on www.nsls.org.

CONTACT:
Sawyer Lipari
slipari@lambert.com
(570) 764-5072

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SOURCE National Society of Leadership and Success