SC Coronavirus Immunity Estimate Shocks Expert
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APRIL 16, 2021 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA VOL. 37, NO. 10 REMEMBERING LIVES LOST DURING PANDEMIC SC coronavirus immunity estimate shocks expert BY HELEN ADAMS [email protected] ublic health experts at MUSC estimate statewide Pimmunity to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has hit about 65%. “I was a little shocked,” said Michael Sweat, Ph.D., leader of the MUSC COVID-19 Epidemiology Intelligence Project. “But as we went back through the numbers, it was kind of hard to argue.” His team has put not only the statewide estimate but also estimates for every county in South Carolina online, Photo By Sarah Pack updating the website as more Sweat Britt Bates, MUSC Arts and Healing Program, signs the memory wall that was created as part information comes in. It’s part of of the April 14 MUSC Day of Remembrance event held at St. Luke’s Chapel. The event, which a public service MUSC has been offering since the early featured remarks, reflections, music, poetry and prayer, honored the memory of the lives lost days of the pandemic, tracking everything from COVID to the COVID-19 pandemic. case numbers to vaccinations to give the public, health care leaders and politicians solid data for decision making. Pickens, McCormick and Greenville counties have Campus welcomes return of print the highest estimated immunity, all over 70%. Saluda, Jasper and Berkeley counties have the lowest, coming in around 40%. MUSC Catalyst News on April 30 The Charleston Tri–county area, which includes After a year–long hiatus of its hard copy edition, The coronavirus. Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, has a MUSC Catalyst News will return to print in late April. For this inaugural return to print, we will feature combined estimated 57% immunity. The Office of Public Affairs and Media Relations an in-depth look at MUSC’s Day of Remembrance “I've always been pretty optimistic about the more staff has consulted with MUSC Infectious Disease to commemorate the lives lost and honor all who recent period we're in, because vaccinations are going and Safety and Quality experts and industry studies have sacrificed so much to care for the sick and pretty well,” Sweat said. to confirm that paper products such as newsprint are vulnerable. safe and low–risk in surface–based transmission of the See Immunity on page 11 Patient Gift School–based clinic 4 MICUNew staff HCC honored technology for First–of–its–kindEighty-two days clinic opensat MUSC in 2 BOT Update 5 exceptional care. NorthDouble Charleston. lung transplant 5 Meet Amber Sansbury Detects early stage 8 4 liver cancer. 6 patient heads home. 10 Obit-Dr. Curtis Worthington 2 MUSC CATALYST NEWS, APRIL 16, 2021 MUSC Board of Trustees Meeting Update Recently, MUSC and MUHA Board of include accounting for the extra doses with his wife, Mrs. Ann Edwards, to In addition to simplifying workflows, Trustees met for their regularly scheduled found per vial.” Cawley observed, “This make MUSC second to none in terms Workday will also empower employees to combined committee sessions and week has been particularly challenging of quality care, instruction and research complete human resources and payroll board meeting, April 8 and 9. In light due to last–minute supply issues that are across all colleges. However, as a dentist actions from anywhere using mobile of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, out of our control, forcing us to move himself, the College of Dental Medicine devices. many attended the meeting via video and reschedule vaccine appointments. held a special place in Dr. Edwards’ q In other business, the 16–member conference. Those who gathered in Nevertheless, MUSC continues to heart. He and his wife, Ann, who is with MUSC/MUHA board also voted to person in the MUSC boardroom vaccinate as many people as we can as us virtually today, are responsible for approve the following items: observed appropriate safety protocols, fast as possible.” securing the funding for this endowed •Improve access to high–quality breast including wearing masks and social q Despite the enduring challenges chair, which included resources from imaging in the community by locating distancing. In addition to updates on of the pandemic, MUSC continues Conoco–Philips, Waste Management 3D mammography at the MUSC Health its education, research and clinical care to transform and grow. The board and Mr. Peter Lawson-Johnston II.” West Ashley clinic. operations, the board received a primer voted to support filing two certificates He continued, “Ann, on behalf of the •A capital budget request of $2.9 on how the mRNA vaccine works as well of need (CON) with the South MUSC Board of Trustees and senior million for renovations at MUSC Health as information on how MUSC Health Carolina Department of Health and leadership, thank you for your sustained Chester Medical Center. is administering the Pfizer BioNTech Environmental Control (DHEC) for the support and contributions to the •A lease amendment to continue vaccine and how the health system is deployment of a linear accelerator in Medical University of South Carolina providing 46,857 square feet of space to working to reduce vaccine hesitancy. Lancaster County and a surgical robot over the years. Today, we honor Dr. the Department of Veterans Affairs on “During this pandemic, our team focus for MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Edwards and celebrate this achievement the MUSC main campus in Charleston. remains to serve communities across Center. DHEC must issue a CON before in his honor. Thank you both for making •Renewal of an 11,494 square feet lease the state with engagement on multiple certain types of health care acquisitions, the first endowed chair in the College of for office space on Doughty Street in levels, including getting vaccines into expansions and creation of new facilities Dental Medicine possible. The Dr. James Charleston to continue providing space arms, providing virus testing, delivery of are allowed. A linear accelerator is B. Edwards Endowed Chair in Oral and to support the Department of Psychiatry, the newest, most effective therapies to commonly used by a radiation therapist Maxillofacial Surgery will enhance the Clinical Neuroscience Division, drug treat COVID-19 patients and continuing to deliver external beam radiation quality of clinical care and research in abuse research training and the South education about safety and prevention,” treatments to cancer patients. A surgical this area of expertise for years to come.” Carolina Clinical & Translational said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, MUSC robot serves to extend the physical q The board voted to appoint Martin Research Institute. president. “We are also working at a capabilities of surgeons, adding the most Steed, D.D.S., to the James B. Edwards, •Renewal of a lease for 6,414 square grassroots level to plan and execute advanced and refined technology at the D.M.D., Endowed Chair in Oral feet of clinical space on Hospital Drive vaccine distribution to at–risk and rural fingertips of surgeons to benefit patients. Surgery, effective March 1. Steed is a in Charleston that supports delivery of communities as the limited vaccine q “It is a tremendous honor to professor and chair in the Department therapeutic services, physical therapy supply permits,” he added. announce the establishment of the of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and and occupational therapy in the Mount “To date, we have received 83,850 Dr. James B. Edwards Endowed Chair associate dean for Hospital Affairs in the Pleasant area. vaccines and administered 85,407 in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in College of Dental Medicine. •Execution of a new lease agreement vaccinations,” said Patrick J. Cawley, the College of Dental Medicine,” said q The board also reviewed and endorsed for 4,500 square feet of clinical space M.D., MUSC Health CEO and vice James Lemon, D.M.D., chairman of the the proposed new enterprise strategy — on Charlotte Highway in Indian Land, president for Health Affairs, University. MUSC/MUHA board. “As President of OneMUSC. The focus of the strategy is which will provide sites for Lancaster “The nearly 102% doses administered MUSC, Dr. Edwards worked tirelessly to empower and propel team members to pediatrics and a multispecialty clinic. achieve greater innovation, impact and •Renewal of a lease for 4,200 square feet influence over the next five–year period. of clinical space on West Meeting Street One such enterprisewide initiative, the in Lancaster to continue providing space MUSC Workday implementation, was for MUSC Health general surgery. shared with the trustees. •A lease renewal for 1,143 parking Editorial Office The MUSC Catalyst News is Workday is a state-of-the-art platform spaces in the Hagood parking lot located MUSC Office of Public Affairs published bi-monthly. 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