Orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey Deren, MD, recently returned to work at Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic in Orlando (Fla.) after recovering from the novel coronavirus, NBC affiliate WESH 2 reports.
Dr. Deren began experiencing symptoms of the virus on June 26 — fevers, aches, a cough and shortness of breath — and decided to get tested.
After a positive result returned, he was admitted to Orlando Health Regional Medical Center, where he spent four days.
Healthcare workers at the hospital gave him remdesivir and decadron, a corticosteroid, to help him recover.
While in isolation, fear started to creep in for the surgeon. "You're left with this feeling that you have a disease that killed half a million people and there's no real treatment for it," he told WESH 2.
Dr. Deren was discharged July 7, quarantined at home, and returned to work July 20.