Kearney History Professor Uses the Past to Educate Students About Pandemic

June 18, 2020, 2:01 p.m. ·

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University of Nebraska-Kearney history professor David Vail. (Photo courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Kearney)

University of Nebraska-Kearney history professor David Vail is using previous pandemics to educate his students about COVID-19. Vail teaches a history of science and medicine undergraduate course each semester, but this summer he's also teaching a graduate course covering global pandemics. Vail said he is essentially teaching history as it is happening.

“I was literally in the lecture schedule going through the history of pandemics and epidemics, Vail said.” We all found ourselves in this moment where we felt like we were kind of living the history that we are learning.”

Vail said he thinks it will be an important class for years to come.