This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Most people may know Mark Murphy's writing before they know his face or voice as the local physician has garnered as much admiration for his writing as his health work. Now in the midst of a global pandemic, Murphy has taken to combining both health and writing to craft his "Journal of a Plague Year" as he documents his work through the COVID-19 crisis. On this episode of Difference Makers, Murphy discusses coming to Savannah, gaining a passion for writing, meeting his wife and what people should be aware of and learn from with the coronavirus outbreak.

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(8:40): Interest in writing, medicine

(11:54): Going to the University of Georgia

• Mark Murphy column: An ode to college football (SMN, Sept. 1, 2019)
• Mark Murphy column: Why I love college football (SMN, Nov. 9, 2019)

(15:10): Return to Savannah and his relationship with his wife

• Mark Murphy column: Reflections on three decades as a physician (SMN, Aug. 17, 2019)

(20:51): What sparked a return to writing

(23:44): Shifting from writing columns to writing novels

(30:28): "Journal of a Plague Year"

• Journal of the Plague Year: Savannah physician chronicles fight with coronavirus (SMN, March 21, 2020)
• Mark Murphy column: A Journal of the Plague Year, week two (SMN, March 28, 2020)

(33:24): The inside view of how the country has responded to COVID-19

(37:22): Local healthcare response

(40:46): Lessons we need to learn coming out of this outbreak

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