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2019 Vaping Summit
State and local healthcare officials joined the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine on Oct. 11 for the 2019 Vaping Summit. The event was co-sponsored by the WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine, Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association and Mississippi State Medical Association.
“People have seen a lot of media coverage recently about acute lung injury associated with e-cigarette use. We thought it was critically important to get the most up-to-date information out, not only to the healthcare community, but to the population as well,” said Dr. Melissa Stephens, WCUCOM’s director of Graduate Medical Education and Population Health.
“There’s been a lot of investigation at the Centers for Disease Control, but there’s also been a lot of investigation here at the state level. We’ve invited Dr. Paul Byers, our state epidemiologist, to update us on the most recent statistics and the Mississippi State Department of Health’s response to this crisis.”
Dr. Italo Subbarao, WCUCOM dean, welcomed local physicians, medical and nursing students and members of the community to the summit.
Dr. Byers opened the public briefing with a report on how acute lung injuries caused by e-cigarettes have affected Mississippians – including one death. Two Hattiesburg physicians also presented reports and spoke with members of the media in attendance:
- Dr. Richard Calderone, pediatrician, is a faculty member at Forrest General Hospital Family Medicine residency program. He is also a member of the National Health Service Corps, serving with the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative.
- Dr. Steven Stogner is a pulmonologist with Hattiesburg Clinic and serves as vice president of Hattiesburg Clinic’s board of directors. He is also medical director of Forrest General Hospital Critical Care Unit.
All physicians in attendance had the same advice: “If you’re vaping, stop. This is an unregulated industry, and you have no idea what you’re putting into your body.”
In the photo: Dr. Melissa Stephens of the WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine speaks with media representatives before the 2019 Vaping Summit.
