Preventing the next pandemic: Will we be prepared?

On April 8, 2022 BU Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy & Research (CEID) & BU School of Public Health co-hosted this public discussion: 
COVID-19 has readily made the point that the era of infectious diseases is far from over. And there are good reasons to think that with increasing urbanization and climate change, more large outbreaks and pandemics are in store. As we move away from an emergency response to dealing with the lasting impacts of COVID-19, it is critical that we learn the lessons around what we did well and what we did poorly and develop clear plans for preventing, where possible, and mitigating the impact of, when not, any future pandemic. 
Watch the videos


Featured Speakers

SESSION 1: WHAT DID WE GET RIGHT AND WHAT DID WE GET WRONG?
  • Natalie Dean (CAS’09), Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
  • Angela Rasmussen, Research Scientist, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan
  • Maria Sundaram, Associate Research Scientist, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
  • Rajeev Venkayya, Chief Executive Officer, new venture-backed company developing therapeutics against SARS CoV-2 and other viruses with pandemic potential
  • Nahid Bhadelia (MODERATOR), Director, Boston University Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research; Associate Director, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
SESSION 2: HOW DO WE REDUCE THE RISK OF ANOTHER PANDEMIC, AND ALSO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER?
  • Krutika Kuppalli, Medical Officer for COVID-19 Health Operations in the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention in the Health Emergencies Program, World Health Organization
  • Megan Ranney, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School; Academic Dean, School of Public Health, Brown University
  • Jeffrey Shaman, Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
  • Tara Smith, Professor of Epidemiology, Kent State University
  • Matthew Fox (SPH’02,’07) (MODERATOR), Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health