Virginia Should Declare War on COVID19: Extraordinary Times Call for Decisive Action

 

Our very own Dr. Wenzel has done it again.....this time in a Richmond Times Dispatch opinion. The third and final (hopefully) COVID 19 wave is upon us, it is time for Virginia to take aggressive and bold measures.

Me acabo de vacunar! COVID-19 Vaccine at VCU

 

My COVID-19 Vaccine Experience at VCU Health.

COVID-19 Vaccine Facts vs Fiction: Dr. Richard Wenzel

I serve as the Richard P. Wenzel Professor of Medicine (Endowed Professorship) at VCU so it is always on honor to promote the work of our most esteemed colleague, Dick Wenzel, now Professor Emeritus.

For those seeking an informative video on COVID 19 vaccines, seek no no further. Our very own Dr. Richard Wenzel tells you what you need to know, now.

Dark Archives: A Book on Anthropodermic Bibliopegy

 

Sometimes the topic of  a book is so bizarre that the temptation to read it is too great.  Such is the case with the Dark Archives, by Megan Rosenbloom. 

The book explores the very real history of anthropodermic bibliopegy-  the binding of books with human skin. What transpires is a fascinating read on book binding, grave diggers (known as resurrectionists) who supply fresh corpses to medical school anatomists, tanning hides and the dark (and infrequent) practice of binding books in human skin.

This is a highly worthwhile read for any bibliophile or history of Medicine buff.

16th Annual Richmond City FC Copa Navidad: Charity Soccer Event with Special Remembrance of Daryl Grove

On Saturday December 5th, we celebrated the life of Daryl Grove by way of the 16th Annual Richmond City FC (RCFC) Copa Navidad Charity Soccer Game.

The match pitted the RCFC Blues vs the Maroons for bragging club rights. The fund raised will go to the charities supported by our dear, departed friend Daryl.

Owing to a nagging wrist injury, I sat out the match this year and opted for the role of photographer. 

Images are below.

Feliz Navidad

American Contagions- A Must Read For Those Who Seek A Deeper Understanding

 

American Contagions, hot off the press, by Yale University Professor John Fabian Witt, is a concise (150 pages) must read for those who seek a deeper understanding of the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To quote the author: Our institutions powerfully constrain the pathways of our response to epidemic….the decentralized police power channels epidemic policy into state governments and private actors rather than the federal government.

The end result is a heterogeneous, poorly coordinated national response to the greatest infectious diseases threat of the last 100 years.

Podcast in The Abstract Athlete: Where Ron Johnson and I Explore COVID-19, Soccer, Drumming, Rock n Roll and Wellness

Thank you to VCU (Art) Professor Ron Johnson, for the honor to appear in the The Abstract Athlete. 

Our podcast can be accessed here, where we explore matters such as COVID-19, soccer, drumming, rock n roll and wellness.

An Academic Book That Supposedly No One Read: Newton's 'Principia'

 As a bibliophile, this article in the New York Times caught my eye today. 

Yes, there are many academic books that "no one reads" and Newton's "Principia" may have been one of them,  or may be not. Apparently there are 386 copies of the original printing in existence and a recent study published in the Annals of Science, available here, suggests that initial readership was much greater than previously understood. Of course, over time, this was one of the most influential scientific publications ever.

So, academicians, keep writing. as first prints may not always predict the impact of your work.  The "immediacy index"  of a publication can only go so far.

The Impact of Unconscious Bias in Healthcare

This high quality supplement article that was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases is worth reading if you seek an academic perspective on the impact of unconscious bias in healthcare.

 A section that was particularly on point was the concept of going beyond cultural competency towards cultural humility- one that starts from a condition of empathy and proceeds through asking open ended questions to better understand others.

This is paper is now mandatory reading for the VCU Infectious Diseases service.

Fall/Winter 2020 Issue of the Medical Literary Messenger Now Published

Thank you contributors and a special thank you to the amazing editorial team!

The Fall/Winter Medical Literary Messenger is published, available free and open access to all here.

ID Week 2020: What I Learned

As ID Week 2020 draws to an end here is what I learned:

• Virtual conferences may lack a personal touch, travel and networking experience but they are still effective and engaging, we need to be continuously nimble with our educational platforms
• All policy is health policy
• Addressing health disparities is more important than ever
• Despite an surge in anti-science, expert opinion is invaluable
• The lack of a coordinated response to COVID-19 is a public health dumpster fire
• My colleagues are amazing
• Although we are small in number, the importance (and value) of infectious diseases specialists grows exponentially

See you next year.

Beautiful Data: A Primer On Data Visulaization

For those seeking a concise and relevant review  the presentation of visual data in infection prevention,  check out this masterful article in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

I must agree with Jorge Salinas et al, the visual representation of infection prevention data is human factors engineering for the eye.

Like visual abstracts,  the well designed graph or figure should require little background information to convey complex data in an easy to digest and aesthetically pleasing manner.

COVID-19 Infodemic: Quantifying Sources from The Cornell Alliance for Science

 

If you seek the sources of the misinformation that are driving the COVID-19, search no further. Hot off the press (here) today (10/1/2020) from the The Cornell Alliance for Science.

The primary driver of the COVID-19 misinformation published in the English language is not likely to surprise.

 

A Visual Abstract Worth a Thousand Words! COVID-19 and Hospitalized Patient Outcomes

 

The visual abstract above speaks volumes- predictors of poor outcomes and death in US COVID-19 hospitalized patients: advanced age, obesity, diabetes, fever, elevated ESR/CRP and respiratory rate.

The article is accessible here.

Beyond COVID-19: The Rules of Contagion

For those seeking an informative read that transcends COVID-19, check out The Rules of Contagion, by Adam Kucharski. A review on the book, published in The Guardian, is accessible here.

A particularly unsettling section of the book explores the role of fake news in the spread of scientific misinformation. I have raised this issue previously (here) on my blog.

This book is worth reading.

Agreed! Don’t Let the Pandemic End a 100-Year-Old Soccer Legacy

Photo Source: NY Times

Disclosure:  I am biased as a lifelong footballer and as my brother, Alex Bearman, is the Executive Director of District Sports Soccer, I sympathize with supporters of the Beautiful Game.

This article in the NY Times really caught my eye, in which the Cosmopolitan Soccer League remains on hold secondary to COVID-19.  With proper precautions, as highlighted here by the CDC,  amateur sports can reduce the risk of COVID-19.  With soccer, as the game is played outdoors and as some league are moving to a modified 7 vs 7 (60 minutes) instead of 11 vs 11 (90 minutes),  the risk is further decreased. People with debilitating and chronic conditions are rarely (if ever) on the field. Handshakes are no longer allowed, the only shared equipment is the game ball.

Few things are ever fully risk free.

I will be back on the pitch this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. with Richmond City FC. 

Rock is Dead- Long Live Rock! The Cassette Comeback, The Revenge of Analog and A Surge in Guitar Sales....

 

Cassette tapes are making a comeback, per this LA Times article. This is almost certainly not for the sound quality, rather for nostalgia. However, this preference may not be that simple as explored in the book The Revenge of Analog..as previously posted here.

In the COVID-19 era, guitar sales are surging.

My most meaningful outlet in these strange times is jamming with my band, in our 6000 sq foot practice space, socially distanced.

To quote The Who: Rock is Dead- Long Live Rock!

The Vagabond Dandies are: Justin Haught (lead guitar, vocals), Gary Tye (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Greg Lawson (bass guitar, backing vocals) and The Blogger (drums, backing vocals)

Instagram: @vagabond_dandies