News Release

COVID-19, climate change, and global crises among topics at NAM Annual Meeting - Oct. 18-19

The National Academy of Medicine's (NAM) virtual 50th Annual Meeting will include a scientific symposium on Monday, Oct. 19 -- Confronting Urgent Threats to Human Health and Society: COVID-19 and Climate Change.

Meeting Announcement

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

COVID-19, Climate Change and Human Health, and Responding to Global Crises Among Topics at Meeting of Nation's Top Health Leaders and Scholars - Oct. 18-19

The National Academy of Medicine's (NAM) virtual 50th Annual Meeting will include a scientific symposium on Monday, Oct. 19 -- Confronting Urgent Threats to Human Health and Society: COVID-19 and Climate Change. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will give a keynote address at 11:15 a.m. EDT. The following sessions will also be webcast live.

The State of the COVID-19 Pandemic | 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. EDT

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will deliver the keynote during a session on COVID-19 virus emergence, the impact of the pandemic, and U.S. and global preparedness and response. A panel discussion, moderated by Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent, will follow. Panelists are:

* Chikwe Ihekweazu, director general, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

* Nicole Lurie, strategic adviser to the CEO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and former assistant secretary for preparedness and response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

* Susan R. Weiss, professor of microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Climate Change and Human Health | 2:05 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. EDT

With a keynote by Andrew Haines, professor of environmental change and public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, this session will explore the environmental, societal, and individual impacts of climate change, including the link between climate change and racial justice. Richard J. Jackson, professor emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles, will moderate a panel discussion with:

* Georges C. Benjamin, executive director, American Public Health Association

* Jane Lubchenco, university distinguished professor, Oregon State University, and former NOAA administrator

* Jacqueline Patterson, senior director, environmental and climate justice program, NAACP

Responding to Global Crises | 4:05 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. EDT Beginning with an address from Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, the President's Forum will examine future directions in science and policymaking to address complex threats to society. Moderated by Judith Rodin, president emerita, University of Pennsylvania, and past president of The Rockefeller Foundation, the panel discussion features:

* Jeremy J. Farrar, director, Wellcome Trust

* Niall Ferguson, Milbank Family Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

* Adrienne L. Hollis, senior climate justice and health scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists

* Jim Yong Kim, vice chairman and partner, Global Infrastructure Partners, and former president, World Bank Group

* Donna E. Shalala, member of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives

NAM President Victor Dzau will also deliver an address to members, present various awards, and introduce new fellows.

In addition, on Sunday, Oct. 18, NAM will host Interest Group meetings open to the public on a wide range of topics, such as COVID?19 and racism, the disproportionate harm being experienced by older adults during the pandemic, telehealth and telemedicine, nutrition and saturated fat, and the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act.

Details:

Sunday, Oct. 18, 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. EDT

Monday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. EDT

Agenda

Reporters who wish to attend the meeting should register in advance.

Contact:

Dana Korsen, Media Relations Manager
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu

Twitter: @theNAMedicine

Facebook: @NAMedicine

Instagram: @thenamedicine

Follow the conversation using #NAMmtg

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