Our community sustained a terrible tragedy yesterday. Navdeep Kang, a fourth-year medical student, died from trauma sustained in a motor vehicle accident. According to news reports, Nav was riding a motorcycle and was struck by an SUV on River Road in Potomac, MD. He was taken to Suburban Hospital, however was unable to survive the injuries.

Nav was a wonderfully caring, engaging person, an incredibly bright light in our school, whose absence will leave a tremendous hole in our community. I spoke to his parents in Pittsburgh, offered our deepest sympathies, and our desire to provide whatever support is necessary.

In the wake of this tragedy, the SMHS community is invited to gather today from 4-6 p.m. in the Weingold Conference Room on the 7th floor of Ross Hall for support and to remember Nav.

In addition, grief counselors in the University Counseling Center (UCC) are available for students. The UCC can be accessed either in person during business hours or by phone at 202-994-5300 at any time. And, of course, the SMHS deans are always available for support and counseling.

Additional information and plans regarding our community's desire to remember Nav will be forthcoming as they emerge. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers go out to Navdeep's family, his loved ones and friends.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Akman, MD