WATCH: How has the COVID pandemic affected children on the MS Coast? Join us for a live Q&A

Most Coast students have been back in-person learning for about a month, the same month that the delta variant of COVID-19 has surged across South Mississippi.

We know you still have questions.

This fourth wave of COVID is characterized by rapid transmission, especially in children, which has left over 18,800 students quarantined statewide during August, the pivotal back-to-school period. And while the age bracket for vaccine eligibility now includes those 12 and older and most schools districts on the Coast now require masks, questions about pediatric COVID and pandemic mitigation in schools continue to linger.

Join the Sun Herald on Wednesday, Sep. 15, at 4 p.m. CT for a live virtual event with local health experts on what the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic means for you and your family and ask your questions about the impacts it has on children.

The Sun Herald’s Isabella Murray is going to talk with Medical Director Dr. Tyler Sexton, a Singing River Health System pediatrics physician who has worked with many COVID cases in children over the course of the pandemic and Memorial Hospital Chief Medical Information Officer Michael S. Wiederhold, who has overseen one of the Coast’s largest health systems during the pandemic from an administrative role.

Watch here, on Facebook and YouTube.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Tyler Sexton is the Medical Director of Singing River Pediatrics. Dr. Sexton earned his medical degree from the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine specializing in pediatrics and hyperbaric medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at the University of South Alabama. Since 2003, Dr. Sexton has been an international motivational speaker. Dr. Sexton has spoken hundreds of times raising awareness about overcoming adversity for the disabled. Dr. Sexton focuses on adult and pediatric wound care and serves as Chair of Pediatrics and Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Memorial Hospital Chief Medical Information Officer Michael S. Wiederhold MD, MPH, MS, FACHE joined Memorial Hospital with over 20 years of health care experience. He started his health care career as a hospital volunteer, then became an Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate, and from there rose through the health care ranks. He has previously been named to Becker’s Rising Stars: 25 Health care Leaders Under 40 list. In addition to his CMIO responsibilities, Dr. Wiederhold has executive responsibilities for all of Population Health. Dr. Wiederhold holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medicine Sciences; Master of Public Health from Tulane University; Master of Science in Emergency Health Services from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Emory University. Dr. Wiederhold is a Certified Professional in Health care Quality, Patient Safety, Health care Risk Management, and Health care Information & Management Systems, as well as being a Fellow of the American College of Health care Executives.

This article and live event is supported by the Journalism and Public Information Fund, a fund of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Dr. Tyler Sexton

Pediatric Hospitalist, Singing River Health System

Michael S. Wiederhold MD, MPH, MS, FACHE

Memorial Hospital Chief Medical Information Officer

Moderated by Isabella Murray. Read her stories here.

This story was originally published September 12, 2021 at 4:00 AM.