SFIC Online Briefing for Faith Leaders
Addresses the Challenges of Death
in These Times of COVID-19
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Thursday, August 13, 2020
8:30 am - 9:45 am
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If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that COVID-19 has indiscriminately impacted every sector of society and life as we once knew it. One particular human experience that's been profoundly disrupted by the virus has been the death and grieving of loved ones. Protective precautions have not only precluded family members from being at their loved ones side at the time of death, but also created distinct challenges to the customary funeral rites so integral to the healthy grief process. Joining us this week to shine a light on both the technical as well as pastoral challenges of death in these times of COVID-19 is the former Medical Examiner Liaison to the Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Medical Branch, Rand Miyashiro, and representatives of the religious and funeral-related services. This "Weekly Online Briefing for Faith Leaders" series is hosted by the San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC) and supported by the COVID Command Center's Joint Information Center (JIC) Virtual Outreach Team.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY ONLINE BRIEFING MODERATOR
Michael G. Pappas, M.Div., Executive Director
WELCOME & READING OF SFIC STATEMENT
Kaushik Roy, Chair
MEDITATION Sister Sukanya Belsare
(Introduction of Guest Presenter and Presentation by
SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas)
Rand Miyashiro, PMP
IT Project Manager
Rand Miyashiro is an IT Project Manager at the City and County of San Francisco. He is the former Medical Examiner Liaison to the San Francisco Department of Health Operations Center and one of the organizers of the SFDPH Decedent Testing Unit. Trained in Anthropology and specializing in Biological Anthropology, Rand has spent most of his career in the California Information Technology Healthcare arena. He worked as an IT Director for hospitals and biotechnology companies, including UCSF-Stanford during the merger. For the past 15 years he worked as an IT Project Manager implementing new labor and delivery systems, and in San Francisco a replacement IT systems for Medical Examiner's Office, and his current assignment, at the County Clerk including Marriage License and Marriage Ceremony functions.
Public Health Order for Decedent Testing
The new Health Order C19-14 compels Funeral Establishments to seek evidence of COV ID-19 testing of deceased persons in San Francisco before taking them into their care. This presentation explains the background for this new and comprehensive order and discusses the DPH guidance available for Funeral Establishments and for families.
Attendees of this presentation will learn how to access published guidance and better understand the impact on families and the Funeral Establishments and the Medical Examiner that serve them.
FAITH PANELISTS
Imam Abu Qadir Al-Amin
Resident Imam
Samuel J. Salkin, Executive Director
CLOSING REMARKS/NEXT STEPS
SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas
The SFIC extends special thanks to the COVID Command Center's Joint Information Center Virtual Outreach Team for facilitating technology support
for this weekly series of Online Briefings for Faith Leaders.
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