MUSC Raises Awareness to Impact of Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs During Wear Orange Day

The MUSC Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program (TTVIP) hosted Wear Orange Day on Friday, June 3, to bring awareness to the impact of firearm violence in our community and country. Wear Orange Day is recognized as the national day of gun violence awareness, as firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., and a leading cause of death in young adults. Health care providers, leaders, community members, law enforcement and local organizations came together to promote gun violence prevention and raise awareness of this critical public health issue. Survivors and victims of gun violence were available to share their stories, and non-profits provided resources and educational materials.

“Our mission at MUSC Health is improving the health of South Carolinians,” said David Zaas, M.D., MBA, CEO of MUSC Health Charleston Division. “One way we can improve the health of our community is by working together with our local government and our community partners.”  He added that as the only comprehensive academic medical center in South Carolina, MUSC Health has an obligation and a responsibility to lead the way in research to help address the solutions to improve outcomes for victims of mass violence. “Together with our community partners and local leaders, we are working to understand the causes of community violence better, conduct research, and seek solutions to violence prevention and intervention in our community,” Zaas said. “I applaud Dr. Hink and the Violence Intervention Team for championing this difficult public health issue and thank everyone here today for joining us.” 

Ashley Hink, M.D., MPH, medical director of the TTVIP, said that even though the TTVIP program is only less than a year old, it has already had a profound impact on caring for the patients and their families who are victims of violence. “We have been able to help victims and their families find paths that potentially will change their lives, prevent recidivism, and stop retaliation – which are things we often see in community violence,” she said.

Hink recognized the groups that were at the event who were all working towards finding public health solutions to address community violence. That includes the TTVIP, a hospital-based violence intervention program demonstrated to improve outcomes and reduce repeat violence, community violence interruption programs such as the Youth Advocate Program, as well as programs like Positive Vibes, who provides community services to uplift at-risk neighborhoods. The Charleston Police Department was represented in addition to Be SMART, an advocacy group that educates the public on safe firearm storage. Many groups that provide support and mental health services after tragedy were in attendance including the National Crime Victims Center, the Trauma Resiliency and Recovery Program and We are Their Voices, a non-profit started by a MUSC employee Tisa Whack after she lost her son to gun violence.

Hink encouraged everyone in attendance to take time to speak to the organizations, learn more about some of the solutions and what individuals in attendance can do to support their efforts.  TTVIP Client Advocate Keith Smalls added, “My only request to you is to meet somebody here that you never knew and become their friend before you leave here. Please share your ideas, and share some of their passion. And then next time you come to the Wear Orange Event next year, bring somebody else which the next event you go to bring somebody else with you,” he said.

Hink offers that one action attendees might take would be calling or writing one of our elected officials. Another option might be learning about community violence, intervention, and interruption about what individuals can do to support them. Learn about safe firearm storage to keep children safe and learn about the resources that are available to help support recovery.

“So please, engage with each other, walk away with a solution that you can implement,” she said. “We are here for you. And we’re so grateful for you coming out to support survivors, promote awareness, promote peace, and really address violence as a public health problem.”