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EdNC spoke with Dr. Sallie Permar, director of the Children’s Health and Discovery Initiative at Duke University Medical School, about the coronavirus pandemic’s impacts on children and children’s role in policy and research as North Carolina reopens. Dr. Permar, who is also a professor of pediatrics, immunology, and molecular genetics and microbiology, says child-centered solutions will be important in overcoming the pandemic.

In this week’s Faculty Spotlight, Michael J. Smith, MD, MSCE, talks to us about his clinical responsibilities, including medical directorship of the pediatric infectious diseases clinic and the pediatric antimicrobial stewardship program. He also shares how he’s adapting at work and at home to treat patients and care for his own children during the age of COVID-19. He believes that collaboration and building relationships with faculty in other divisions has been an essential strategy in adapting to this time of uncertainty.

Excerpts from Thursday's media briefing featuring Duke medical scholars Drs. Sallie Permar and Cameron Wolfe on topics including masks, vaccines, immunology, and the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Excepts from Dr. Sallie Permar's article in USA Today arguing that ignoring children in the course of the pandemic is a mistake. "We are learning children are not immune to serious effects of COVID-19 — and moreover, they are likely key to its endgame."

The only research activity allowed to continue is that addressing the root cause of our new normal: COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV2, a virus no one knew existed until four months before.

Michael Cohen-Wolkowiez, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Quantitative Sciences, and Sallie Permar, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases, are among nine faculty who have been recognized with Distinguished Professorships from the School of Medicine in 2020.

A curious feature of the new coronavirus is that it rarely causes severe symptoms in children

Neeraj (“Neil”) Surana, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of pediatrics, immunology, and molecular genetics and microbiology in the School of Medicine, is one of 12 recipients of the 2019 Hartwell Individual Biomedical Research Award, according to The Hartwell Foundation.

Coronavirus isn't the only deadly virus making the rounds. Duke researchers have been tapped by the federal government to work on a vaccine that could save thousands of lives struck down by flu.

After two years in North Carolina, biostatistician Rebecca Young, 32, has found plenty to appreciate about her new home.