Washington, D.C. (June 5, 2014)—America is becoming increasingly interconnected – physically, economically, digitally – and with that greater connection comes both increased vulnerabilities to public health hazards and increased opportunities for coordination in response. The Atlantic will convene global health leaders the morning of Wednesday, June 11 in Washington, D.C. for “Going Viral: Keeping Communities Healthy Through Public Health Emergency Preparedness,” a program that explores how government officials can partner with business and community leaders to prepare for and respond to national health threats. Steve Clemons, Editor-in-Chief of AtlanticLIVE and Washington Editor-at-Large of The Atlantic, will moderate the event.
The program will feature a one-on-one interview with Irwin Redlener, MD, Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Earth Institute and Professor of Health Policy & Management and Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University. Following the interview, Redlener will join a broader panel conversation on how public and private sectors can support each other to reduce risks, respond to crises, and enable healthier living. Panel members include Andrew Garrett, MD, MPH, Director of the National Disaster Medical System at the Department of Health and Human Services; Robin Robinson, PhD, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the Department of Health and Human Services; and Eric Toner, MD, Senior Associate at the UPMC Center for Health Security.