Page 32 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2020

JACKSON COUNTY
DR. STEVE, PUBLIC SERVANT
story by Paige Roberts photos by Kerry Bass and Sarah Du ey
STEVE DEMETROPOULOS is sworn in as Mayor of Pascagoula.
T iming is Divine, and there is no greater expression of that belief right now than at Pascagoula City Hall. For 33 years, Steve Demetropoulos, fondly known as Dr.
Steve, has served as a Singing River Hospital emergency room physician and Singing River Health System Ocean Springs Medical Clinic doctor. On February 18 of this year, he added Mayor to his title, mere weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Jackson County.
A black belt in both Karate and Aikido, Demetropoulos has the discipline demanded by a public health crisis and a city’s
public. He delivers measured, meaningful messages via video on the city’s website and social media sites throughout each week. The videos, which explain the viral science and deliver dicta
of leadership, have garnered thousands of views and positive response from his constituents.
A humble man deeply rooted in his Christian faith, Demetropoulos believes he is appropriately equipped for both roles. And while he admits his rst hundred days in o ce
are looking nothing like he imagined, he continues to write prescriptions for Pascagoula’s success.
S
AV
have cancelled planned
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G
story by Paige Ro
C OVID-19 has threatened the blood supply at across the country, as
blood drives.
System (SRHS) is no di erent. “We rely on volunteer donors
LIV
most businesses and
sustain the community blood supply – an important resource that cannot be manufactured in a laboratory. Blood shortages are common across the nation at any given time but now more than ever blood supply is extremely low,” said Heath Thompson, Registered Nurse and Ocean Springs Hospital Administrator.
Jackson County and Ocean Springs Chambers of Commerce rallied its members and community partners to roll up their sleeves April 7 at the Family Interactive Center in Pascagoula and the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA in Ocean Springs. Almost a hundred donors successfully gave their blood.
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams reminds people it is safe to give blood during the pandemic. “Social distancing does not mean social disengagement.” Call The Blood Center at 228.365.8446 or American Red Cross at 228.762.2455 to schedule a blood donation or drive.
Singing River Health
ES
berts photos
hospitals
organizations
by
to
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I
X
Paige Roberts
ON APRIL
7TH the
Jackson
County and Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce rallied the community to donate blood.
F
EET
and Georgia Storey
APART
32 | May 2020
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
DR. DEMETROPOULOS on duty at Singing River Health System.