January 9, 2024
My Health Challenge
Difference Makers,
I hope everyone enjoyed their winter break and you are ready for the successes to come in 2024!
Successes come from achieving goals that overcome challenges. I have a new health challenge to overcome. In mid-December after a routine screening, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The good news is that it was caught early, is currently contained in the colon, and is treatable. My health goal in 2024 is to beat cancer. I will succeed.
The bad news is that I will require surgery and an appropriate amount of recovery time. This will take me away from work. The surgery is scheduled for January 17. I plan to take leave from January 15 through January 31 completely off. From February 1 through February 16, I will start gradually increasing my workload, albeit remotely. I hope to resume full-time duties again on February 19.
Of course, life doesn’t always follow our plans. More time away may be needed, especially if we determine chemotherapy is needed. We will not know that until after the surgery.
I hate to be away that long. It is in my best interest, and the interest of K-State Research and Extension, that I focus on my health during this time. While I will advise and provide guidance to the system as is practical during this time, I have named Chris Onstad, associate director for field operations, as acting director for extension while I am away.
During this time, he will be focusing on his current duties as well as my Cooperative Extension leadership duties. Dr. Onstad is an experienced and accomplished extension administrator and leader. He and the Extension Administration Team will do great while I am away.
Chris can be contacted for well wishes, questions, or concerns at constad@ksu.edu.
While Dr. Onstad will cover my Cooperative Extension leadership duties, my K-State 105 duties will be temporarily shifted to both Tim Steffensmeier (K-State assistant vice president for engagement and outreach) and Deborah Kohl (community vitality state specialist). They have already been working with me on K-State 105, and I have full confidence in their ability to continue extension’s growth in the K-State 105 initiative.
You can send your K-State 105 questions to Tim and Deborah at steffy@ksu.edu and dkohl@ksu.edu, respectively.
I have communicated my health concern, treatment and recovery schedule, and leadership coverage plan to Senior Vice President Marshall Stewart and Dean Ernie Minton. They are very supportive of both me concentrating on my health and my temporary leadership coverage plan. Dean Minton shared the following:
“Like the rest of you, I was shocked to get this news from Gregg, but I also know that Gregg will approach his treatment both aggressively and positively. We wish him the best as he focuses on his health.
“I also have complete confidence in Chris and the Extension Administration Team. I believe extension is well positioned to grow with the implementation of K-State 105 and build upon the ever changing and expanding mission of serving Kansans where they work, play and live.”
I know some of you will want to send prayers, thoughts and messages of well wishes. All will be greatly appreciated, but I ask that you do one thing before sending them for and to me. My future success in overcoming this health challenge will be attributed to its early detection via routine screening. Going to the doctor, dentist, eye doctors, etc. for checkups and screenings are critical for promoting long and healthy lives.
And so I ask: Have you been putting off a checkup or screening? If so, I challenge you to make that appointment. It is an easy, yet critically important health goal to achieve in 2024!