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A resolution recognizing Michelle Fiscus, M.D., for her leadership during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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WHEREAS, Michelle Fiscus, M.D., served as Medical Director of the Tennessee Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program at the Tennessee Department of Health and was responsible for leading Tennessee's COVID-19 vaccine response; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus embodied the Tennessee Department of Health's mission to “protect, promote, and improve the health and prosperity of the people of Tennessee”; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus was described as "outstanding" by the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, who further stated that Dr. Fiscus "exceeded expectations" in her important role; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus worked long hours to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine, the sole tool for effectively ending the COVID-19 pandemic, was made available to every resident of Davidson County and every Tennessean; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus helped launch ImmunizeTN, a highly praised nonprofit, to promote immunizations and provide education to healthcare providers and to the public; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus continued to provide evidence-based education and vaccine access so that Davidson County residents and other Tennesseans could protect themselves against COVID-19 despite a tidal wave of misinformation, disinformation, and vitriol; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus worked to ensure young Tennesseans and their parents would receive reminders about a range of important vaccinations; and
WHEREAS, under Dr. Fiscus's leadership, Tennessee saw its vaccination rates top 95% among kindergarteners; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus is a board-certified pediatrician who practiced general pediatrics for 17 years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Fiscus is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, is a past-president of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing Dr. Michelle Fiscus for her leadership during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.