FLC | Air Force physicians bring COVID-19 convalescent plasma to Dayton

Air Force physicians bring COVID-19 convalescent plasma to Dayton

April 10, 2020

A quick call to action by Air Force doctors has potentially resulted in a groundbreaking treatment for COVID-19 patients. Maj. Evan Fisher, Chief of Nephrology, and Maj. Matthew Koroscil, a Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center, are coordinating with the Dayton, Ohio medical community on a new drug protocol for COVID-19 patients—an example of the continuous partnership between the Wright-Patterson Medical Center and the entire Dayton region.

On March 24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released an emergency investigative new drug protocol for COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) for severe disease. Having already begun research, Matthew Koroscil discussed his ideas (based on the plan of his brother, Air Force Maj. Michael Koroscil of 81st Medical Group at Keesler Air Force Base) with Fisher to bring this treatment to the Wright-Patterson Medical Center.

After writing their own protocol based on independent research on plasma used in prior viral infections (SARS, MERS-CoV, and Ebola), Fisher and Koroscil initially had the idea for Wright-Patterson Medical Center’s Blood Donor Center to become a CCP collection site.

Although it was ultimately determined that it would be difficult to collect CCP on base, they knew off-base collection sites could still support their plans. They reached out to the Dayton medical community and its regional hospitals.

Fisher and Koroscil began discussing their research with Roberto Colón, System Vice President of Quality and Safety, Premier Health and James Alexander, Medical Director for the Community Blood Center. Fisher also contacted Mount Sinai Hospital and the New York City Blood Bank, so that the Dayton team could adapt their protocols for collection and treatment. All of this happened within just three days of the FDA’s call for investigation.

The next step was to find a donor who had already contracted and recovered from the COVID-19 virus.

In Dayton, Fisher and Koroscil identified a donor and brought Premier Health, the Dayton VA Medical Center, Kettering Health Network and Dayton Children’s Hospital into the initiative while continuing to share their protocol with dozens of physicians, administrators, and laboratories across the city. By the following week, news outlets had picked up CCP as a possible COVID-19 treatment.

On April 6, after more than 100 hours of Fisher and Koroscil’s personal time researching, organizing, planning and coordinating this project, the first convalescent plasma donation was taken at the Community Blood Center in Dayton. The donor’s plasma has already been used to treat COVID-19 patients.

“After Doctor Fischer and Doctor Koroscil first reached out with this novel idea, it became apparent that we could assist with additional collaboration to further develop and operationalize this idea,” Colón said. “We were able to rapidly gather a team with additional resources to further support and move forward this initiative. In just under two weeks, this therapy went from a concept at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center to operational across the city of Dayton.”

Both Fisher and Koroscil completed their residency training in internal medicine at the combined United States Air Force and Wright State University Residency in Dayton, Ohio and now, as attending physicians, had a key role in helping develop this therapy to help patients across the same community.

“Wright-Patterson Air Force Base prides itself on our interaction and coordination in our local community,” said Air Force Col. Michael Foutch, 88th Medical Group Commander. “We could not be more proud of these dedicated physicians and our ever expanding partnerships with the greater Dayton area medical community.”