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Howard University Hospital: (from left to right) Syed Abbas, director of applications; Eugene Schiller, director of technology; Janice Murphy, director of IT operations; and Dr. Kevin Dawson, CIO.
Photo: Howard University Hospital
In March 2020, the number of new COVID-19 infections was rapidly increasing in Washington. With no vaccination or specific treatment on the horizon, Howard University Hospital, an academic medical center in the district, prepared for a major surge of COVID-19 patients.
Soon after the onset of the pandemic a racial disparity became clear. African Americans were disproportionately taking the toll of the infections and developed more serious and often fatal illness. With a large Black community in Washington, Howard University Hospital prepared for disproportionately more patients and more severely ill patients.