
Resistance: The Antibiotics Challenge,
An Atlantic Forum
March 16, 2016
Washington, D.C.
Since their discovery, antibiotics have proved to be extremely successful in curing disease; illnesses that were once fatal are now easily treatable. But now, health leaders are raising the alarm over the potential overuse of antibiotics in people and food animals, which has led to the evolution of drug resistant bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic resistance affects more than two million in the U.S. and is responsible for the deaths of more than 23,000 Americans each year.
In this forum, The Atlantic brought together key leaders to tackle the challenge of antibiotics in the 21st century. How can we best ensure the responsible use of antibiotics? Are regulations guiding the use of antibiotics in food animals sufficient to tackle growing antibiotic resistance? What is the likely impact on the meat industry as many fast food chains move toward phasing out the use of meat raised with antibiotics? What are the public health implications of the impending crisis in antibiotics effectiveness?
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Speakers
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Beth Bell Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -
Georges Benjamin Executive Director American Public Health Association -
Steve Clemons Washington Editor at Large The Atlantic -
Christine Daugherty Vice President, Sustainable Food Production Tyson Foods -
Barry I. Eisenstein Distinguished Physician, Antimicrobials Merck -
Colby Ferguson Small Farmer and Director of Government Relations Maryland Farm Bureau -
Wanda Filer President American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) -
William T. Flynn Deputy Director for Science Policy, Center for Veterinary Medicine FDA -
Susan Vaughn Grooters Policy Analyst Keep Antibiotics Working @SGrooters -
Christine Hoang Assistant Director of the Division of Animal and Public Health American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) -
Kathy Talkington Project Director, Antibiotic Resistance Project Pew Charitable Trusts
Agenda
Note: All times are ET
- Wednesday, March 16
- 8:30 a.m.WelcomeEmily Akhtarzandi, Managing Director, AtlanticLIVE
John Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, National Pork Board - 8:40 a.m.Identifying ResistanceBeth Bell, Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
William T. Flynn, Deputy Director for Science Policy, Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S Food and Drug Administration
With Steve Clemons, Washington Editor at Large, The Atlantic - 9:10 a.m.Farm to TableChristine Daugherty, Vice President of Sustainable Food Production, Tyson Foods
Colby Ferguson, Hog Farmer; Government Relations Director, Maryland Farm Bureau
Susan Vaughn Grooters, Policy Analyst, Keep Antibiotics Working Coalition
Christine Hoang, Assistant Director of the Division of Animal and Public Health, American Veterinary Medical Association
With Steve Clemons - 9:40 a.m.Efficacy: Treating with AntibioticsGeorges Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
Barry I. Eisenstein, Distinguished Physician, Antimicrobials, Merck
Wanda Filer, President, American Academy of Family Physicians
Kathy Talkington, Director, Antibiotics Resistance Project, Pew Charitable Trusts
With Steve Clemons - 10:10 a.m.Closing RemarksEmily Akhtarzandi