Temple University Health System’s preparations for and treatment of patients amidst the coronavirus pandemic continue to be part of the media’s COVID-19 coverage.
- Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Chief Advisor to Operation Warp Speed, was at Temple University Hospital (TUH) on Friday, November 20, to discuss Temple’s participation in the Phase 3 clinical research study known as the ENSEMBLE trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational COVID-19 vaccine made by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Slaoui also toured Temple’s vaccine trial site and took part in a press conference to wrap up his visit. Tony S. Reed, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and Nina Gentile, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Research Director in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM), and Temple’s principal investigator for the ENSEMBLE trial, also participated in the press conference. Multiple media outlets, including USA Today, 6ABC-TV, FOX29-TV, CBS3-TV and NBC10-TV covered the event. Dr. Gentile also spoke with KYW Newsradio and was interviewed live on FOX29’s Good Day Philadelphia broadcast about the trial.
- Dr. Reed spoke with WHYY about the increase in coronavirus cases in Philadelphia, the ability for Temple to convert non-traditional areas into space that can accommodate higher-acuity care and the recent hiring of 100 nurses.
- Philadelphia magazine also featured perspective from Dr. Reed on the distribution plan for a COVID-19 vaccine and the steps that are necessary to build trust in the vaccine within the community and with health care workers.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer interviewed Claire Raab, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at TUHS, and Abhinav Rastogi, MBA, MIS, Executive Vice President at TUHS and Chief Operating Officer at TUH, about Temple’s preparations for the next wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the decision to continue utilizing the Boyer Pavilion building as a COVID-19 containment hospital and the ability to convert non-traditional areas into space that can accommodate higher-acuity care.
- Gerard J. Criner, MD, FACP, FACCP, Chair and Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at LKSOM and Director of the Temple Lung Center, led an interactive session on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the COVID-19 pandemic that was part of the 2020 International COPD and Asthma Conference. The session, which was held virtually, included discussions on risk, reality and management of patients with COPD, as well as vaccines and anti-viral agents targeting the coronavirus. Steven G. Kelsen, MD, Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at LKSOM, was also a participant. 6ABC featured highlights from the session in a Health Check segment on its 5 p.m. newscast.
- Daniel A. Salerno, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Clinical Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at LKSOM and Director of Critical Care Services in the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit at TUH, joined Telemundo 62 to discuss the increase in coronavirus cases as well as preparations for a possible rise in hospitalizations.
- Hernan Alvarado, Director of Respiratory Therapy for TUHS, spoke with 6ABC-TV about lessons learned from the first wave of COVID-19 and how they are informing patient care today.
- Ryan Gibbons, MD, FAAEM, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Assistant Director of the Division of Emergency Ultrasound in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Associate Director of the Sol Sherry College of Doctoring at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, presented a study at the virtual American College of Emergency Physicians meeting on the initial imaging of possible COVID-19 patients reporting to the emergency department and conducting that screening by ultrasound vs. X-ray. He discussed the findings with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- The Rheumatologist featured perspective from Roberto Caricchio, MD, FACR, Chief of the Section of Rheumatology, Professor of Medicine, and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at LKSOM and Director of the Temple Lupus Program at TUH. Dr. Caricchio spoke with American College of Rheumatology colleagues during a recent Scientific Session, where he discussed COVID-19 clinical trials, many of which are incorporating rheumatology therapies, as well as COVID-19-related cytokine storm.
- Delana Wardlaw, MD, who practices at Temple Physicians, Inc. at Nicetown, spoke with the Philadelphia Tribune and 6ABC-TV about why COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact African Americans.
- Robert Bettiker, MD/MGA, FACP, Professor of Medicine at LKSOM, shared the importance of getting a flu shot and maintaining virtual connection with friends and family during the coronavirus pandemic for an article in the Temple News.