Infectious IDeas

Join hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, for an insightful conversation with Grace Lee, MD, MPH, an infectious disease physician and dynamic leader who helped guide US vaccine policy making during the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares insights into the complexities and challenges encountered, as well as the importance of vaccine safety during the COVID-19 del...

Join hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, for a compelling discussion with patient advocate and public health champion Leana Wen, MD, MSc. Practicing physician and Washington Post columnist, Wen shares her remarkable journey, from her childhood as an immigrant to the US from China, to her experiences as Health Commissioner of Baltimore. Hear her thoughts on addressing health dis...

Join hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, for a compelling discussion with renowned infectious disease specialist and public health communicator, Céline Gounder, MD, ScM. Gounder shares her insights on the importance of trust in public health communication, the fight against misinformation, the future of infectious disease diagnostics, and her personal journey coping with her hu...

Join hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, as they dive into a candid discussion with Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, of Resolve to Save Lives, exploring his journey from philosophy to medicine and a distinguished career in public health, with a focus on building resilient communities. From limiting trans-fat to banning smoking, he has spent his career working to build a healthier future f...

In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about her perspectives on rebuilding trust in public health agencies. She shares what first influenced her to study medicine, what she is most proud of to date at CDC as well as barriers going forward, and what most keeps her a...

In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He shares insights from his influential career in vaccine science and diplomacy, from how the field has changed over time, how his experience as the father of an autistic daughter helped shape his career, and wha...

In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the US Food and Drug Administration. He shares his insights on the origin of Operation Warp Speed during the COVID-19 pandemic, his efforts to transform the way that FDA approaches approval and licensure of new vaccines and...

In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Carol J. Baker, MD, a leader in group B Streptococcus prevention and a passionate advocate for maternal immunization to help protect mothers and infants. She shares her perspectives on the most significant changes throughout her career, including the development of vaccines and antivirals as well as the inclusion of...

In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who was deeply involved in the responses to some of the biggest public health threats of the past 5 decades including HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. She shares her perspectives on the most significant changes she has seen...

In the season 2 premier episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Barney S. Graham, MD, PhD, professor and senior advisor for global health equity at Morehouse School of Medicine, and one of the true heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion ranges from his early experiences farming to industry challenges, big scientific changes in recent years, exciting new...

Bruce G. Gellin, MD, MPH, senior vice president and chief of global public health strategy at The Rockefeller Foundation, was a source of science-based information about vaccines long before misinformation and disinformation became buzzwords. From developing the first pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan for the US in 2005, to decades spent working to promote public health, he has bee...

As President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Richard E. Besser, MD, former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and former ABC News chief health and medical editor, is now a leading champion for health equity urging the US to embrace its potential and provide opportunities for all to thrive …  Follow NFID on social media

An international leader who played a key role in shaping the global COVID-19 vaccine strategy, Katherine L. O’Brien, MD, MPH , is now focused on bringing communities around the world up to date on immunizations and creating an accord to improve the global response to the next pandemic …    Follow NFID on social media

As the first female director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH, led the agency through 40 public health crises, including SARS-CoV-1. As  CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, she now advocates for change to strengthen US health security and break the cycle of crisis to complacency … Follow NFID on social media

An avid baseball fan who has played a pivotal role in shaping vaccine policy in the US and globally, Walter A. Orenstein, MD, reflects on lessons learned from smallpox, measles, polio, and how his love of baseball influenced a remarkable career in epidemiology and public health … Follow NFID on social media

Scientist, philosopher, and public health hero, William H. Foege, MD, MPH , tells the remarkable story of the eradication of smallpox, a disease that killed more than 300 million people in the 20th century, and reflects on the lessons learned that are still relevant today …   Follow NFID on social media

A preeminent scientist who literally wrote the book on vaccines, Stanley A. Plotkin, MD , recalls the history of his work on life-saving vaccines for rubella and rotavirus, and discusses his predictions for the future … Follow NFID on social media

Renowned scientist, advisor to 7 US Presidents, and widely known as “the nation’s top infectious disease doctor,” Anthony S. Fauci, MD, reflects on his decades-long career overseeing US research efforts from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19... Follow NFID on social media

Internationally renowned scientist and public health advisor Paul A. Offit, MD, talks about the humble heroes who inspired him, and shares his insights on mixing politics and public health—for better or for worse. His favorite myth may surprise you… Follow NFID on social media

NFID Vice President Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, shares predictions for the upcoming influenza (flu) season, describes how the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted new vaccine technologies, and shares her thoughts about the politicization of vaccine science…   Follow NFID on social media

NFID President Patricia (Patsy) A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, shares insights on storytelling and effectively responding to parent and patient concerns about vaccines to protect against COVID-19, measles, and other preventable diseases... Follow NFID on social media

August 3, 2022   SEASON 1   EPISODE 1 Hosts: Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, NFID Executive Director and CEO, and William Schaffner, MD, NFID Medical Director In this inaugural episode of Infectious IDeas, Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD, talks about the life-saving benefits of vaccines, public health challenges that keep her awake at night, and the vaccine-related myth that she most wants to bust…     Fo...