PeaceHealth Media Availability To Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout (Photo) -12/22/20

NEWS MEDIA AVAILABILITY
On Wednesday Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. Lawrence Neville, MD and Divya Bappanad, MD will be available via Zoom videoconference call to discuss the first week of vaccination rollouts at both PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, WA and PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, WA and share updates on efforts to deliver additional vaccine supplies to other healthcare organizations and EMS personnel in southwest Washington.

Background
On Wednesday Dec. 16, 2020 PeaceHealth Southwest commenced its internal vaccination program of its employees. Just over 1,000 caregivers were vaccinated during the first three days, while PeaceHealth St. John vaccinated around 250 caregivers during it’s first two vaccination clinics.

During the Zoom videoconference attendees will have the opportunity to speak with Divya Bappandad, M.D., a Critical Care/Pulmonology specialist at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. Dr. Bappanad was the first physician to be vaccinated on Dec. 17 at PeaceHealth St. John. In her role taking care of critical care patients Dr. Bappanad has seen firsthand the ravages COVID-19 can cause, along with the great stresses the disease has placed on families and caregivers. Due to the precautions necessitated by COVID-19, Dr. Bappanad has not seen her own parents since the pandemic began early this year.

Lawrence Neville, MD has also received the COVID-19 vaccine. He is the Chief Medical Officer for PeaceHealth’s Columbia Network, including both PeaceHealth Southwest and PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. Dr. Neville is prepared to address topics including:

• Current vaccine inventory at PeaceHealth
• Expectations for delivery of additional vaccine supplies
• Efforts to get the vaccine to other healthcare providers in southwest Washington
• PeaceHealth caregivers willingness to get the vaccine
• After effects of the vaccine among our caregivers
• Current status and trends of COVID-19 in our hospitals

If you would like to participate in the Zoom videoconference please email SWCommunications@peacehealth.org and we will provide you with the access link. 

About Divya Bappanad, MD
Divya Bappanad is Board Certified in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Internal Medicine. She earned her medical degree from George Washington University, followed by specialty degrees in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Duke University. The attached photo depicts Dr. Bappanad receiving her COVID-19 vaccination on Dec. 17, 2020 at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, WA.

About Lawrence Neville, MD:
Dr. Neville oversees health and safety issues for both PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, WA and PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, WA. He earned an undergraduate degree in political science at Reed College in Portland; an MA and a masters in philosophy at Yale University; and a medical degree, Magna Cum Laude, at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). He completed his Residency in Neurology at OHSU and a Fellowship in Neuromuscular/ EMG at OHSU. He serves as the Chief Medical & Chief Safety Officer for PeaceHealth's Columbia Network.

About PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.