First Dentist Vaccinates

Kassidy Wolfe, DMD became the first dentist in South Carolina to administer the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Prisma Health – Midlands’ Phase 1a distribution at Gamecock Park in Columbia on Friday, January 22. Dr. Wolfe is a resident dentist at Prisma Health’s General Practice Residency program.

Dr. Wolfe has been joined in the ongoing vaccination efforts by faculty members Drs. Curtis, Hicklin, Nichols, and Krupa, and five other resident dentists: Drs. Phillips, Strait, Thompson, Lyons, and Ramey. The entire Prisma Health Dental Department is contributing to the ongoing vaccination program.

“Prisma Health is leading the vaccination process in the Midlands and Upstate with vaccination centers that will ultimately serve as the conduit for our community’s return to the normalcy we all seek. It is anticipated that this center will be vaccinating up to 5,000 people per day by next week. As employees of Prisma Health, the Midlands dentists were authorized to administer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The Department of Dentistry is proud to be a part of the vaccine distribution,” said Dr. Cynthia Nichols, Faculty Prosthodontist.

Fully accredited by the American Dental Association, the general practice residency in dentistry program is a one-year certificate program designed “to develop essential clinical skills, attitudes, judgement and abilities related to the comprehensive practice of dentistry.” In addition to receiving training in the management of medically, physically, and mentally compromised patients in a hospital setting, Residents are afforded unique opportunities during their training such as being a part of this valuable vaccination process.

Gamecock Park is located near Williams- Brice Stadium at 22 National Guard Road. It is a large-scale drive-up community vaccination location opened by Prisma Health–Midlands on January 18.

About the South Carolina Dental Association

Established in 1869, the South Carolina Dental Association (SCDA) is a non-profit association that currently represents and serves 2,000 Member Dentists in South Carolina. They are a leader in the promotion of oral health care excellence and the advancement of the profession of dentistry in South Carolina. For more information about SCDA, please visit www.scda.org. You can also stay up-to-date by following SCDA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.