A Pandemic and an Epidemic: January 4, 2022

A Pandemic and an Epidemic: Covid-19 and Alternative Facts

Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 7-8:30 pm | Virtual Sessions on Zoom | Facilitated by Howard Jarvis, MD

Dr. Jarvis will speak about how a large regional health system in rural America confronted the medical and cultural realities of Covid, and what unique steps were taken initially. They eventually became the epicenter of the delta wave pandemic, and are now dealing with another peak. The crisis continues to be exacerbated by a low vaccination rate in Springfield, and dismal vaccination rates in the more rural areas. There will be some discussion of the politics of downplaying the effectiveness of masks, social distancing, and vaccines. 

Howard Jarvis, MD, FAAEM, has been interviewed by CNN and the Kansas City star because he has been on the front lines of the battle with Covid and “alternative facts.”  

He is Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the Emergency Department at CoxHealth in Springfield, MO—an area with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. He graduated from Washington University School of Medicine and trained at MetroHealth- Case Western Reserve and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he was Chief Resident in Emergency Medicine.  

Prior to medical school he was in the Graceland University Honors Program directed by UCE Members Bob and Barbara Mesle. He took Bob’s Medical Ethics class, as well as Barbara’s British Literature class, the latter of which was his favorite college course. This Kansas City Star interview with Dr. Jarvis offers a good look at him and his situation.