A chat with Dr. Thomas Dobbs

Good morning.

You’ll notice that today’s column is unlike any I’ve previously sent. Our use of video for livestreaming town hall meetings and press conferences has been so well received that I thought we could incorporate a little of it into VC Notes. I can’t wait to get your feedback on this approach.

While I was not able to catch the presidential inauguration on Wednesday, I have read several of the reports and have found it encouraging to see most of the country come together for one of our nation’s most sacred and stately events – even if it was not as grand as years past due to the pandemic and security concerns. My best hopes for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are to foster unity in what is certainly a divided nation and to take the steps necessary to shepherd us through this pandemic that has now been in our country for more than a year.  

I also heard that the video of the Jackson State University band included as part of the streaming inauguration event celebrating diversity in America was entertaining. And of course, I thought the new Mississippi State Flag looked great in every photo and video I saw it in.

First-shot vaccinations for all Medical Center employees and for UMMC students who are in clinical environments resumed this week and are going well. I encourage you to get your vaccine. It is safe (although that second shot can give you a bit of a short-lived vaccine hangover) and is the most effective pathway to putting COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror. We want as many Mississippians – including you – to be as close to 100 percent safe from this killer virus as possible. More information about employee/student vaccination appointments - which tend to fill up quickly! - can be found here.

Now, on to today’s new-look column, a chat with colleague and UMMC faculty member Dr. Thomas Dobbs, state health officer with the Mississippi State Department of Health. (Click image below to watch video in YouTube.)