Medical student thanks UT community for support through difficult time

December 26, 2012 | News, UToday, Medicine and Life Sciences
By Meghan Cunningham



The past few months have been a difficult time for Halley Briglia, a fourth-year medical student at The University of Toledo, who was the victim of a violent armed robbery in October while in St. Louis for a neurology visiting rotation at Washington University.

Briglia

While such a tragic event could alter a person’s outlook on life, Halley, who suffered a gunshot wound in the attack, has chosen to continue a positive outlook and expressed her gratitude to the UT community for its support through her recovery.

“Several members of the community have not only expressed their concern for my well-being but have gone out of their way to offer help and support,” she wrote in an email to Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

“A tragic event such as this can make one question the state of mankind, but through the actions of the university I have felt only overwhelming kindness, love, and a spirit of concern for fellow man. Thank you.”

Halley wished to express to campus that she is recovering well and is continuing to interview for neurology residency positions.

“Halley is a very brave young woman and has demonstrated remarkable strength through the incident itself, the recovery process and her determination to continue to achieve her life goals,” said Gold, who personally visited her and her family in St. Louis on the day the incident occurred. “I am proud of the support our UT community has shown Halley and her family and I know we are all thrilled to hear the positive news of her recovery. She will remain in our thoughts and prayers as we wish her well in her recovery and academic and career accomplishments.”

Ms. Briglia’s story also was recently documented in The Blade available here.

Please read her letter of thanks to the University:

To the University of Toledo Health Sciences Community:

I want to start by saying “thank you” to everyone at the University of Toledo for their outpouring of support during this difficult time. I was truly touched by the number of cards, flowers, and well wishes that I received and that I still continue to receive. Several members of the community have not only expressed their concern for my well-being but have gone out of their way to offer help and support. A tragic event such as this can make one question the state of mankind, but through the actions of the university I have felt only overwhelming kindness, love, and a spirit of concern for fellow man. Thank you.

I have been recovering well and have gone on almost 9 Neurology Residency interviews now!

Traveling has been a challenge, but I am very lucky to have a support system that has made the travel and interviewing possible. Though this incident has complicated and compacted my interview season, I should be able to accomplish most of my previously planned interviews. I have been continuing my course work during this time and plan to return to the health science campus in February to complete my clinical rotations. Thus, through the support of my friends, family, the university, I should be able to graduate and match with my class!

Thank you again for your concern and support,

Halley Briglia

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