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Dr. Sarah Moyer
A CONVERSATION WITH THE HEAD OF METRO GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THE AGE OF COVID-19
What is your official title with Metro Government?
Chief Health Strategist for the City of Louisville.
What is your experience and medical background that lead you to your current position with Metro Government?
I’m a board-certified family physician. I obtained my master’s degree in Public Health, with honors, from Dartmouth College and my Doctor of Medicine from Temple University School of Medicine.
Prior to being appointed as Chief Health Strategist with Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, I served for two years as Medical Director in the same department. Before joining LMPHW, I saw patients at Centers for Primary Care with University of Louisville, and trained residents at the Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine.
In addition to my educational and medical background I am a proud member of various professional organizations such as The American Public Health Association, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Kentucky Health Department Association and many others.
But my best and most important job is being mom to James, Landon, Teddy and Rosie and wife to the “other” Dr. Moyer. My husband, Jed, is a pediatric orthopedic doctor.
Do you recommend getting the flu shot every year? Or just this year.
The CDC recommends getting a yearly flu vaccine, which I strongly suggest. It’s even more important to get one during the 2020-2021 season to protect yourself and help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is it more important for specific groups to get flu shots this year?
It’s important for everyone to get a flu shot this year.
How soon do you suggest getting a Flu Shot?
You should make plans to get vaccinated early in the fall every year. The flu vaccine is available now, and I got mine this week!
The Centers for Disease Control recommends getting a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading to your community. Usually we start to see cases in mid to late October. According to the CDC, it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. So, now is a great time to get a flu shot.
Louisville Metro has information on places to get vaccinated in Louisville here.
I read an article a few months ago that suggests that those with seasonal allergies should take extra care to take their allergy medicine because the inflammation caused by allergies can make them more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus. Is this true?
According to the CDC, there isn’t enough data currently to determine whether having seasonal allergies puts you at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. What we do know is that those with severe underlying medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease or obesity are at a greater risk for developing severe COVID-19.
If so, would this apply to the flu as well?
If you have allergic asthma, your airways could be more sensitive to viruses and germs. Please make sure you’re keeping up with your doctors’ appointments to make sure your allergies and asthma are under control, and get your Flu shot!
What would you tell people who are undecided about getting a flu shot this year?
Studies show Flu shots aren’t just important for preventing Flu, but also for staying alive. It’s more important than having clean air, staying thin or exercising for extending your life expectancy. People who get flu shots also have less heart attacks and strokes.
So please, get a flu shot now. The flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses and it may be hard to tell the difference between them because they share similar symptoms. The good news is we have a vaccine for the flu. Our healthcare system gets extremely busy during flu season. Let’s all do our part to help our doctors’ offices, treatment centers and hospitals not be overrun with flu so they can take care of other urgent health needs. Immunization are considered preventative services and are covered by most health insurance companies with no out of pocket expenses to pay. Louisville has several drive-thru clinics coming up later this month. Also, pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens proved opportunities to set up offsite flu vaccine clinics at schools, businesses, churches, etc. There are more listed at our website here.
Any additional tips or suggestions to protect yourself from the virus?
Here’s what we know works in helping to stop the spread of communicable diseases like the flu: getting vaccinated, being diligent in good hand hygiene practices, wearing a mask, and boosting your own immune system and wellbeing by eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, being physically active, and doing things that bring you joy. It’s important that people also take care of their mental health during this challenging time. I encourage people to seek out mental health resources such as Mental Health Lou and don’t hesitate to call any of the crisis and helplines available:
Call a WarmLine (provides early intervention with emotional support that can prevent a crisis) 1-833-626-1490, www.warmline.org.
Or call Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
If everyone practiced social distancing, wore masks & washed their hands frequently do you think we could conquer this pandemic before the end of the year?
We are already seeing that our efforts in these practices work. But we need everyone to stay strong and diligent in following them. I know it’s challenging but these measures will be something we need to continue to do for some time. We’re fighting a common enemy – a new virus that’s causing severe illness and deaths of people we care about.
It’s more than just wearing a mask and washing your hands. It’s also being careful about where you go – avoiding inside or outside crowded places; as well as cooperating with our contact tracers. When you get a call from LOU HEALTH, answer it. Provide information so we can help you if you’ve tested positive or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive. We can get kids back in school, keep our businesses open and people working, if we all work together to protect not only ourselves and our families but others in our community as well. This is our new normal and I love all the creativity I’m seeing in how our community continues to work, play and socialize safely.
How realistic is the expectation that a coronavirus vaccine will be available this year?
We know there are several companies offering vaccine trials. We believe those trials must be thorough and vetted for to ensure safety. Once a vaccine does get approved and made available for distribution, we will be ready to distribute it. We’ve done this before. Vaccine distribution is a part of any emergency response to a communicable disease and we have a plan in place. Years ago, we deployed the H1N1 vaccine and most recently we worked with many community partners to deploy the Hepatitis A vaccine.
Would you personally take the vaccine as soon as it’s available or wait until it has been used successfully on more people?
Once the vaccine has completed the vaccine trials and is deemed safe, I will be getting vaccinated.
Any misconceptions about this virus that you would like to clear up?
I often hear the argument that the coronavirus is a hoax. In public health, our work is based on science, medicine, research, and data. It’s discouraging to me and my team of 250 employees that public health, a long-trusted voice that has helped to stop diseases, and help people live longer through improved sanitation and prevention practices and policies, is suddenly thrust into a political arena and doubted. I assure you that my employees and I haven’t been working 12 to 16-hour days with minimal time off because of a hoax. The virus is real, and we want to stop it’s spread. We dedicate ourselves daily to the work of helping everyone and every community thrive. We want a safe and healthy community.
Thank you, Dr. Moyer for your efforts to keep us informed about this virus and working tirelessly with your team to flatten the curve in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Let's all continue to do our part to reduce the spread of this virus by continuing to social distance, washing our hands frequently, wearing a mask when we got out in public and getting a flu shot at the earliest opportunity. It is more important than ever to get a flu shot this year.
WORKING FROM HOME: YOUR NEW COWORKERS
Ten people voted and the results are as follows:
A. 1 B. 1 C. 6 D. 2
The winner is Option C. Paid Vacation and $15,000.
Thank you to those who participated in the voting process.
LaTonya Bell October 2nd
Aaron Horner October 5th
Elizabeth Alexander October 19th
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY!
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR LISA FRANKLIN GRAY FOR COMPLETING HER KENTUCKY MUNICPAL CLERK'S CERTIFICATION.
CONGRATULATIONS, LISA!
CROCKPOT CREAMY WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
A slow cooked white chicken chili packed with flavor and finished off with cream cheese and a splash of half and half to make it nice and creamy.
Ingredients
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1-½ lbs. chicken breast, raw
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2 15.5-ounce Great Northern Beans (3 cups) drained, but not rinsed
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2 4-ounce cans diced mild green chiles
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1 ½ cups corn, frozen
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1 ¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth
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2 tsp cumin
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2 tsp garlic powder
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2 tsp onion powder
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2 tsp chili powder
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1 tsp kosher salt
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1 tsp Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
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1 tsp pepper
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¼ tsp cayenne pepper depending on level of spice preference
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1/2 cup half and half
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4 oz. light cream cheese
Instructions
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In a slow cooker, add chicken breast, beans, green chiles, corn, spices, and chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5 hours.
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Remove chicken and shred. Stir back into the chili. Stir in half and half and light cream cheese. Cook on high for 30 minutes.
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Top with tortilla strips, cheese, green onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and a squeeze of lime, if desired.
This chili is one of my very favorite cool weather comfort foods. I serve it with thickly sliced, lightly buttered sourdough bread. It is hearty, flavorful and perfect for a cool fall evening meal. Eat heartily!
Erica E. Turner
COLUMBUS DAY OCTOBER 12TH
BOSS'S DAY OCTOBER 16TH
HALLOWEEN OCTOBER 31ST
OCTOBER IS
BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS
MONTH
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Meet Norma Maddox's (D2)
oldest grandson, Anthony
Michael Daniels, Jr. aka
"TJ". He is 24 years old and a
graduate of Quincy University
in Illinois. TJ also attended
Davenport University in
Michigan, where he was an
inside/outside linebacker for
both college teams.
He is currently attending
Florida Coastal School of Law
in Jacksonville, FL. TJ's career
aspiration is to become a
defense attorney that
represents the
underserved members of
society. He is a member of the Faith Miracle Temple church in St. Louis and currently worships at The Potter's House in Jacksonville. Even though law school keeps him very busy, TJ still makes it a priority to give back to the community by mentoring and advocating for the youth.
His hobbies include playing and watching sports, especially football;
exercising and lifting weights. He loves spending time with his 19 year old
twin siblings and their Labrador Retriever mix, Ace. His favorite dessert
is homemade caramel cake.
TJ has received numerous recognitions and awards for his
accomplishments since he was in his junior year in high school. He is
driven by a desire to help those less fortunate than himself in any way that
he can. Ms. Norma is a very proud Grandmother and with good reason!
It is a genuine pleasure to feature TJ in this edition of the e-newsletter.
His purpose-driven life of service by helping others is truly admirable.
We are expecting great things from this fine young man in the future.
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“The purpose of life is not to
be happy. It is to be useful, to
be honorable, to be
compassionate, to have it
make some difference that
you have lived and lived well.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Dan Luckett October 2nd\
Brent Ackerson October 9th
Mary Whitlock October 16th
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
• The name of the month of October comes from the Latin “octō”, meaning “eight”, because in the Roman calendar October was the eighth month of the year. With the adding of January and February at the beginning of the calendar after the Julian calendar reform, October became the tenth month of the year, as we know it today.
• The Anglo-Saxons called October “Wintirfyllith”, meaning “fullness of winter” because it had the first full moon of the winter season.
• Another fun fact about October is that, according to folklore, if the deer have a gray coat in this month you should expect a hard winter.
• The holiday of Halloween, celebrated in October, comes from “All Hallows’ Eve” or the night before “All Hallows” day (“All Saints” day) as in old English “hallow” means “to sanctify”.
• The zodiac signs for October are Libra (September 23 – October 22) and Scorpio (October 23 – November 21).
• Famous people born in October include Angela Lansbury, Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Julie Andrews, Hugh Jackman, Katy Perry, Alfred Nobel, Anne Rice, Arthur Miller, Auguste Lumière, Friedrich Nietzsche, Christopher Columbus, Johannes Vermeer, and John Keets.
• The birthstones for October are the tourmaline and the opal. Tourmalines display a wide spectrum of colors, such as yellow, pink, blue, red, green, black or brown. They are believed to help you stay calm under pressure, bring peace and tranquility and defeat emotions like anger and jealousy. Opals exhibit different colors (green, white, yellow, blue, pink etc.) depending on the conditions under which they were created. Opal gemstones are believed to cure eye infections, strengthen memory, calm nerves and enhance creativity.
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• The traditional flower of the
month of October is the
calendula. It symbolizes
comfort, healing, protection and
grace. It is pictured to the left.
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How to Cope with Community Unrest
Recent tragic events have caused unrest in our communities, which has left many people feeling a sense of loss, frustration, hopelessness, anxiety and fear. Tragic events can cause a range of intense physical, emotional and psychological symptoms. People often experience shock and disbelief immediately after the traumatic event and find it difficult to accept the reality of what is happening.
Emotional reactions
When the initial shock subsides, normal emotional responses in the following hours and days can include:
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Physical reactions
Physical reactions are the result of stress hormones flooding the nervous system. Common physical symptoms include:
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• Fear and anxiety. These emotions can come in waves, at unpredictable times.
• Sadness and depression.
• Guilt, shame or despair.
• Anger and irritability.
• Emotional numbness and feelings of separation from others.
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• Difficulty falling asleep.
• Fatigue.
• Headaches, abdominal pain or other physical pain.
• Heart racing.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Change in appetite.
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The painful emotions after a traumatic event need time to process. The following tips will help you to reduce traumatic stress reactions and begin healing.
What you can do
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Take care of yourself first. Eat healthy foods, get enough rest and exercise regularly. Physical activity can reduce anxiety and promote well-being.
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Talk to people you trust about your concerns. A supportive network is very important for emotional health.
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Make time for hobbies and fun activities or find interesting volunteering activities. This can be a healthy distraction from everyday stress.
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Limit your exposure to disruptive television, radio and social media coverage.
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Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.
What to avoid
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Blocking emotions with alcohol or other drugs only prolongs healing and potentially causes other problems.
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Big changes in life. Allow yourself time before making big decisions.
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Cutting yourself off from other people. You do not need to go it alone.
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Too much media coverage of events. Disturbing images on news or social media sites can further traumatize.
When to get help
The disturbing thoughts, feelings and physical reactions typically become less intense and less frequent in the days and weeks following the event. If you experience stress reactions that affect your ability to lead a normal life for six weeks or more, you may need help from a mental health professional. While everyone is different and heals at their own pace, some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, after a traumatic event. Signs of PTSD include disturbing memories, nightmares or flashbacks, suicidal feelings, disconnectedness from others, and disturbances in the home and work environment. It is important to seek help if you think you have symptoms of PTSD.
Help is available for Metro Government employees at no cost in the form of the Employee Assistance Program. The EAP is completely confidential and available to employees and family members in their household 24/7/365. No situation is too big or too small. Utilize the EAP by calling (800) 588-8143 or visiting the MyMetro website to get additional information.
1. Eating chocolate before studying and/or taking tests, increases your chances of understanding information and passing with a higher grade.
2. Einstein’s final words died with him. The nurse at his bedside didn't speak German.
3. Coffee is a red berry before it's a bean.
4. Koalas have a 35-day gestation period, weigh between 9 - 30 pounds and have a life span of 10 – 15 years.
5. In Russia, they eat their pancakes with sour cream and caviar, not syrup.
6. The average strawberry contains about 200 seeds on their surface.
7. All snowflakes have six sides.
8. Before they were Red, stop signs used to be Yellow.
9. Dr. Seuss was not a doctor. He added Dr. to his name in college to lend credibility to his writing.
10. A camel drinks 26 - 39 gallons of water at one time. An extremely thirsty camel can drink up to 53 gallons at once.
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I pray for peace in the streets of every city in our country. Peace for all the countries marching in solidarity for the equality of all people. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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