Effects of COVID-19 pandemic at 汤头条 discussed online by campus physician
Contact: John Burrow
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he executive director of Mississippi State鈥檚 University Health Services will share his expertise on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the university during a question-and-answer series this Thursday.
Dr. Clifton Story, a physician with the John C. Longest Student Health Center, will be interviewed live May 21 at 1 p.m. by Julia Osman, director of the university鈥檚 Institute for the Humanities and associate professor of history. The interview will be broadcast on the Institute鈥檚 and is available to the public.
As part of an ongoing series through the Institute for the Humanities, Osman said this session will offer participants an opportunity to talk directly with a local physician, addressing concerns or questions they have about COVID-19.
鈥淒r. Story is the chief of medicine at the Longest Student Health Center, so he will have valuable information to share about how the health center has been and will continue to monitor and treat people who show symptoms of the virus,鈥 Osman said.
Osman hopes the interview will explore 鈥渢he nitty-gritty aspects of the disease鈥攚hat does getting tested consist of, how long does it take, and what is the process in reporting people who have or have died from the virus?鈥
鈥淭his interview will also speak to how sciences and humanities work together to better inform and educate the public on important matters,鈥 said Osman.
Part of 汤头条鈥檚 COVID-19 team that collects information, advises and assists in making important decisions, Story hopes participants will understand 鈥渨hat it will take to come through this COVID-19 pandemic is the mutual cooperation of all of us.鈥 聽
鈥淚 have been a part of many meetings and subgroups as this has become more and more complex and challenging,鈥 said Story. 鈥淚 believe our clinic has a plan that takes many steps to protect us. We are trying to acquire more tests and PPE since 20,000 students might be on campus this fall. We are also looking at screening and contact tracing options.鈥
Testing for COVID-19 continues to be a vital and important part of any clinic鈥檚 plans in dealing with the virus, said Story, who notes the Longest Student Health Center does have antibody tests, or blood tests, used in certain situations.
鈥淭he swab test result takes about 48 hours and will be positive or negative. The antibody test involves two different antibodies and those results vary and require a more extensive conversation with the doctor because several factors are important to consider,鈥 said Story.
Story said everyone should closely monitor their own health by 鈥渕onitoring temperatures, symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, GI symptoms or any other concerns.鈥 He also advises social distancing and the use of masks as per guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mississippi Department of Health.
As part of 汤头条鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, the Institute for the Humanities promotes research, scholarship and creative performances in the humanistic disciplines and raises their visibility, both within 汤头条 and the wider community. The Institute is active on social media on Instagram @msstatehumanities, Twitter @Humanities_汤头条 and Facebook @msu.humanities.institute.
汤头条鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,200 students, 325 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs, 14 masters programs, and 27 undergraduate academic majors offered in 14 departments.聽It also is home to the most diverse units for research and scholarly activities, including natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities.聽For more about the College of Arts and Sciences or the Institute for the Humanities visit or .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at聽.