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Carolinas Pandemic Preparedness

convened 2021-2022
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There is a clear need within the Carolinas to develop a consensus on recommendations for responding to future pandemics in a more coordinated and timely fashion. The degree of devastation wrought by these pandemics will be determined by factors like a strong health and public health infrastructure, a well-prepared workforce, strong disaster response infrastructure, a robust social services safety net and adequate access to personal protective equipment, medicine and vaccines.
The Carolinas Pandemic Preparedness Taskforce was guided by a focus on equity, a cross-sector approach to health and well-being, and attention to the needs of vulnerable populations and historically marginalized communities. For more information compiled by IMPH regarding COVID-19 response, visit our COVID-19 Resources page.
Timeline
Steering Committee Meetings: March 2021 – April 2022
Taskforce meetings: July 2021 – April 2022
Final Report: August 2022
Monthly Meeting Materials
July 2021 
August 2021 
September 2021
October 2021 
November 2021
January 2022
February 2022

MISSION & ACTION

The Carolinas Pandemic Preparedness Taskforce was launched in June 2021 in partnership with the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) to provide recommendations for a resilient response to future disease outbreaks. The taskforce is chaired by University of South Carolina Interim President Dr. Harris Pastides and North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders.
Guiding Principles:
  • Consensus means that, even though the decision may not be the first choice of everyone, everyone can live with and will support the decision. Consensus does not mean unanimous agreement.
  • Inclusivity: Effective collaboration requires transparency and inclusiveness, equality among all participants and active participation from all partners.
  • Impact: Effective collaboration requires acknowledging capacity and scaling interventions to realistic goals.
  • Strategic Alignment: Effective collaboration requires all participants to disclose when our own interests are in conflict with those of the task force.
  • Respect: Effective collaboration requires mutual trust and respect for organizational boundaries, continuity in communication and interaction and a distinction between policy analysis and political commentary.
Taskforce Meeting Dates:
  • July 19, 2021
  • August 18, 2021
  • September 20, 2021
  • October 18, 2021
  • November 15, 2021
  • January 24, 2022
  • February 28, 2022
  • March 21, 2022
  • April 25, 2022
Steering Committee
Taskforce members, led by steering committee representatives from both states, will work and learn collaboratively to develop evidence-based recommendations to support future state and local planning efforts.

To learn more about our taskforce team, view the Carolinas Pandemic Preparedness Taskforce Member List.  
Members of the Steering Committee
South Carolina
Graham Adams, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, South Carolina Office of Rural Health
Abdoulaye Diedhiou, PhD
Director, Division of Acute Disease Epidemiology, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Angel Bourdon
Innovation Manager, South Carolina Hospital Association
Melanie Matney, MHA
Chief Operating Officer, South Carolina Hospital Association
Danielle Bowen Scheurer, MD, MSRC, SFHM
Chief Quality Officer, Medical University of South Carolina
Kathia Valverde
Community Health Worker, PASOS
North Carolina
Cardra Burns, DBA, MPA, CLC
Deputy Secretary, Operational Excellence, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Tatyana Kelly
Vice President, Planning/Strategy & Member Services, North Carolina Healthcare Association
Polly Welsh, RN – BC, MPH
Executive Vice President, North Carolina Healthcare Facilities Association
Ellen Essick, PhD
Section Chief, NC Healthy Schools, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Lillian Koontz, MPA
Health Director, Davidson County
Kelly Fuller
President, NC Chamber Foundation
Will Ray, MPH
Chief of Staff, Emergency Management, North Carolina Department of Public Safety
In August 2017, the work of the ILC was folded into the SC Behavioral Health Coalition (BHC) and their leadership team. IMPH continues to support the BHC and participates on the Executive Leadership Team, the Core Leadership Team and each committee of the BHC.

IMPH Publications

April 17, 2020

Policy Brief: COVID and the Carolinas

View the Issue Brief The rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic has brought much of the world to a halt. In the United States, from the first co ...

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For more information, contact Maya Pack

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