While some critics have gone after Simone Biles for her decision to step back from competing in the Olympics, mental health experts are applauding her courage — and hoping her example will help regular people dealing with their own stress.

“I greatly respect what she did for herself, most important, but also for her teammates. There was a lot at stake. She could have pushed through, but she stepped aside and did the difficult thing. It took a lot of courage to know her limits,” said Chris Pelic, M.D. He’s a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina.

“If she continued to compete, it could have been to the detriment of her health. She also wanted to give her teammates the best chance to win, knowing she was not at her best.”

Along the way, Biles has given regular people a role model when it comes to mental health, Pelic said. “She's in a position where a lot of people know her and respect her. She can impact other people who might need help but aren’t in as visible a situation — maybe they’re struggling at work or in school and now are willing to seek care.”

“Each time someone succeeds at a high level, the expectations grow. Often elite athletes are seen as superhuman, almost like machines, whose sole purpose is to compete in sports,” Pelic said.

“Some people are already at a higher state of anxiety at baseline, and then they get put in a stressful situation, and it takes their anxiety to uncomfortable levels. Once your anxiety gets so high, performance drops off. It is almost like a computer that has too many windows open — it's on, and everything's spinning, and it looks like things are happening, but nothing productive is happening. They lock up or they leave the situation – or both,” Pelic said.

Join the MUSC Psychiatry Team at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Charleston Area Walk! This year’s department goal is 25 participants and $5,000 (that’s $200 fundraising each!).

Date: 10/24/2021
Location: Riverfront Park 
Registration: 1:00 pm
Event Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

To register for fundraising and participation: https://afsp.donordrive.com/team/270066

Questions? Email Meg Wallace at wallam@musc.edu

Addiction Sciences Division

Open Rank/Assistant Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC. 

Open Rank/Professor (UNIV, Full-Time): The successful applicant for this position will have either an MD or a PhD degree and will be expected to have an established and independent research program that will interface with the multidisciplinary NIAAA P50 Charleston Alcohol Research Center at MUSC.

Mental Health Disparities & Diversity

**NEW** Bilingual (Spanish/English) Clinician/Coordinator (UNIV, Full-Time): The Telehealth Outreach Program (TOP) is seeking a Bilingual (Spanish/English) master's level provider. Position will assist with coordination for Spanish-speaking patients seen through the TOP program, as well as provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy via telehealth to patients seen through the TOP program. This is a remote position, so applicants are not required to live in the Charleston area. BILINGUAL IN SPANISH/ENGLISH REQUIRED. Experience with TF-CBT or telehealth preferred, but not required. 

Program for Researchers Affected by Pandemic

COVID-19 Voucher Program

The College of Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, and South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR) are pleased to offer a new funding opportunity open to all MUSC tenured and tenure track faculty members whose research has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding of up to $2,000 is available to help investigators gather preliminary data for inclusion in a grant proposal by covering the cost of supplies and/or core and laboratory services; pay for publication costs; or develop a translational focus to their research. Vouchers cannot be used to fund computer purchases, PI or staff salary, or travel. These funds will be distributed through SCTR. A total of $200,000 is available to support these awards.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to receive a voucher an individual must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member and serve as PI on an active research grant. A faculty member can receive only one COVID voucher.

Apply

To apply for a voucher, select the COVID-19 Voucher Program in SPARCRequest. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until all funds are expended.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force will be posting updates on the COVID-19 Vaccine intranet site, including information about the vaccine safety and efficacy, so our care team members can make an informed decision.

**Updated University Directives can be found here.** 

LAB & TESTING OPTIONS

The following resource provides MUSC Health lab and testing options pertaining to COVID-19. Included on this page is information regarding drive-thru and “pop-up” mobile COVID testing locations, antibody or serology tests, drive-in lab and nurse visits, and original/classic lab testing.

MUSC Health Lab & Testing Options

MANDATORY SELF-MONITORING

Due to the activity of COVID-19 within the hospital and community, all employees, residents, fellows and students within all MUSC entities are directed to begin daily self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. This applies regardless of whether you have been working remotely on a full-time or intermittent basis. You need to continue daily self-monitoring, even if symptoms are not present.

• Self-Monitoring App
• Self-Monitoring Log