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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260317T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260317T130000
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SUMMARY:ACIP meeting countdown: COVID vaccine and what else is at stake
DESCRIPTION:Don’t miss this opportunity to get up to speed before the March 18-19 CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting. This webinar\, co-hosted by the Expert Vaccine Analysis Team and the Association of Health Care Journalists\, will provide independent\, evidence-based discussion of topics expected to come up during the meeting. \n\n\n\nThese items include vaccine safety and quality monitoring\, data on COVID vaccine safety\, possible recommendation votes related to COVID vaccine injuries\, and other issues\, such as the evidence framework the CDC uses to assess vaccine data and the risk/benefit analysis of vaccines. We will also discuss other emerging topics that may arise before the meeting. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re a journalist covering immunization policy\, a public health professional navigating a rapidly shifting vaccine landscape\, or a researcher tracking the latest safety data\, this webinar will help equip you with the scientific context you need to understand what’s at stake. The panel of senior vaccine scientists — including Norman Baylor\, Ph.D.\, Miles Braun\, M.D.\, Fiona Havers\, M.D.\, and Paul Offit\, M.D. — will cut through the noise and offer clear\, unbiased analysis. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nTara Haelle\n\n\n\nAHCJ Health Beat Leader for Infectious Diseases and Medical StudiesTara Haelle is AHCJ’s health beat leader for infectious diseases and medical studies. She’s an independent science/health journalist\, author\, speaker\, and photographer. Her work has appeared in the National Geographic\, Scientific American\, Texas Monthly\, Science News\, Medscape/WebMD\, The New York Times\, Wired\, and O Magazine\, among others.  \n\n\n\nShe specializes in public health and medical research\, particularly vaccines\, infectious disease\, maternal and pediatric health\, mental health\, healthcare disparities\, and misinformation. She also covers medical research conferences and edits Long COVID Connection on Medium. Haelle earned a master’s in photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin\, and her images have appeared in Texas Monthly\, NPR\, the\, Chicago Sun-Times and elsewhere. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNorman W. Baylor\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nPresident and CEO\, Biologics Consulting GroupDr. Norman W. Baylor is an expert in the development and licensure of new vaccines\, evaluating numerous vaccines throughout his career including vaccines for acellular pertussis\, varicella\, pneumococcal conjugate\, human papillomavirus (HPV)\, influenza and shingles. He is currently the president and CEO of Biologics Consulting Group\, Inc\, where he is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the company. \n\n\n\nPrior to this\, he spent 20 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)\, most recently as Director of the Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR) in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). In this role\, he oversaw all facets of the clinical and product regulatory review activity\, including quality assurance and oversight of review functions in addition to planning\, developing and administering CBER’s broad national and international programs and operational activities for vaccines and related products. Dr. Baylor served as FDA’s liaison to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices\, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Vaccine Advisory Committee\, and the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines. He served on the board of the Infectious Disease Research Institute and continues to serve as an expert advisor to the World Health Organization on several global vaccine initiatives. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFiona P. Havers\, M.D.\n\n\n\nAdjunct associate professor\, Emory University School of MedicineFiona Havers\, MD\, MHS\, FIDSA\, is an infectious diseases physician and former medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Havers is a senior subject matter expert on vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases and vaccine policy. She was the CDC lead of the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) Team in the Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division within the U.S. CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Dr. Havers oversaw the COVID-19 and RSV platforms within RESP-NET\, a population-based surveillance platform that covers ~9% of the US population and collects data on COVID-19\, RSV\, and influenza-associated hospitalizations. Dr. Havers left CDC in June 2025.  \n\n\n\nThe author of >100 publications while at CDC\, Dr. Havers’ research interests have focused on the epidemiology\, prevention\, treatment and vaccine policy for vaccine-preventable respiratory pathogens\, including influenza\, pertussis\, RSV and SARS-CoV-2. She was previously the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Work Group lead for the Pertussis Vaccines Work Group and has worked extensively on COVID-19 and adult RSV vaccine policy\, including as senior author on the initial adult RSV vaccine ACIP policy recommendations published in 2023. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPaul A. Offit\, M.D.\n\n\n\nDirector\, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education CenterPaul A. Offit\, M.D.\, is the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well as the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology and a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Offit is currently a voting member on the FDA’s Vaccine Advisory Committee and has previously served on the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices to the CDC. He is also the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine\, RotaTeq\, recommended for universal use in infants by the CDC in 2006 and by the WHO in 2013. This vaccine was estimated recently to save about 165\,000 lives a year. He is also the author of 11 books written for the public about science\, medicine\, and vaccines. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nM. Miles Braun\, M.D.\n\n\n\nAdjunct professor\, Georgetown University School of MedicineIn April 2018\, M. Miles Braun MD MPH\, was appointed Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Braun directs a new educational initiative to bring integrative approaches to optimize health and quality of life of adolescent and young adult cancer patients\, survivors and caregivers. Integrative approaches include mind and body practices\, natural products and lifestyle modifications.  \n\n\n\nDr. Braun is board-certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine. He served for 20 years as a medical officer in the US Public Health Service (USPHS)\, including at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)\, National Institutes of Health (NIH)\, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he was for more than 8 years Director of the Division of Epidemiology in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. He has received more than 20 USPHS awards and authored or co-authored well over 100 scientfic-medical publications\, including multiple studies with important clinical impact and epidemiological studies on the causes of various cancers. Dr. Braun has practiced yoga (including meditation) for 25 years\, is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance (RYT200)\, has completed multiple trainings and has extensive personal experience with integrative approaches.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/acip-meeting-countdown-on-demand-webinar/
CATEGORIES:Health Policy,Infectious Diseases,Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T140000
DTSTAMP:20260513T213358Z
CREATED:20260507T221224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T213358Z
UID:63590-1778677200-1778680800@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:Maternal Tdap vaccine: The evidence behind it and how to tell the story
DESCRIPTION:Pertussis (whooping cough) cases are on the rise\, and infants remain the most vulnerable population. Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is one of the most effective tools we have to protect newborns before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves. In this webinar\, you will hear from two expert groups working at the forefront of vaccine communication and evidence translation.  \n\n\n\nThe Vaccine Integrity Project will present their evidence review of the current data on Tdap safety and efficacy in pregnancy\, and The Evidence Collective will share the most common questions they hear from communities both on- and offline and discuss practical strategies for addressing them effectively. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nTara Haelle\n\n\n\nAHCJ Health Beat Leader for Infectious Diseases and Medical StudiesTara Haelle is AHCJ’s health beat leader for infectious diseases and medical studies. She’s an independent science/health journalist\, author\, speaker\, and photographer. Her work has appeared in the National Geographic\, Scientific American\, Texas Monthly\, Science News\, Medscape/WebMD\, The New York Times\, Wired\, and O Magazine\, among others. She specializes in public health and medical research\, particularly vaccines\, infectious disease\, maternal and pediatric health\, mental health\, healthcare disparities\, and misinformation. She also covers medical research conferences and edits Long COVID Connection on Medium. Haelle earned a master’s in photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin\, and her images have appeared in Texas Monthly\, NPR\, the\, Chicago Sun-Times and elsewhere. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBertha A. Hidalgo\, Ph.D.\, MPH\, FACE\n\n\n\nSteering committee\, The Evidence CollectiveDr. Bertha Hidalgo an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Epidemiology and Associate Dean for the Office of Access and Engagement at the UAB School of Public Health. She holds degrees from Stanford University\, the University of Southern California and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She leads research programs in genetic epidemiology and dissemination science.  \n\n\n\nDr. Hidalgo has a highly productive record of peer-reviewed research in relevant research areas with publications as lead or co-lead author in high-impact journals including Nature\, Scientific Reports\, Diabetes\, American Journal of Public Health\, with over 100 publications in total as lead\, co-author or senior author. She has attained research funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation\, National Institutes of Health\, the American Heart Association\, and internal funding from UAB.  \n\n\n\nDr. Hidalgo is the past chair of the Minority Affairs committee and current President of theAmerican College of Epidemiology\, as well as a long-standing member on the NHLBI Board of External Experts. Dr. Hidalgo is also a recipient of the 2019 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Early Career Achievement Award. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nElisabeth Marnik\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nExecutive director\, The Evidence CollectiveDr. Elisabeth Adkins Marnik is a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust\, science\, and public health. She earned her PhD in genetics and immunology from Tufts University. \n\n\n\nRaised in a family that distrusted science and vaccines\, Liz brings a personal understanding of hesitancy to her work. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, she launched Science Whiz Liz to help the public navigate emerging health information\, combining lived experience with scientific expertise. Liz now leads national efforts to translate evidence into clear\, responsible\, and empathetic public communication. She is an inaugural member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Building Trust in Health Science Through Community Partnership and Lived Experience and was named to Mainebiz’s 2025 40 Under 40 for her leadership in science education and public engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEmily Senerth\, M.S.\, MPH\n\n\n\nConsultant researcher\, Evidence FoundationEmily Senerth\, M.S.\, MPH\, is a Consultant Researcher for Evidence Foundation\, a registered nonprofit organization based in Cleveland\, Ohio whose mission is to support evidence-based health care through training\, mentorship\, education\, and collaboration. Emily managed the development of a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness and safety of Tdap vaccination during pregnancy commissioned by the Vaccine Integrity Project. \n\n\n\nShe has also led methodological reviews to investigate systematic review approaches and decision-making frameworks in environmental and occupational health\, systematic reviews on the health effects of noise annoyance and the impact of socioeconomic status on faltering weight\, and technical reviews to support the development of guideline recommendations on left atrial appendage occlusion\, management of chronic venous disease\, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric urinary tract infection\, and lung cancer screening. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRochelle Walensky\, M.D.\, MPH\n\n\n\nProfessor of medicine\, Harvard Medical SchoolMedical affairs adviser\, Vaccine Integrity ProjectDr. Rochelle Walensky is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the medical affairs adviser for the Vaccine Integrity Project. \n\n\n\nDr. Walensky served as the 19th Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021-23)\, Professor of Medicine\, Harvard Medical School (2012-2021)\, and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases\, Massachusetts General Hospital (2017-2021). Dr. Walensky is a board-certified infectious disease clinician whose research and over 300 peer-reviewed publications has focused on infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS policy\, including cost-effective strategies for HIV screening\, treatment\, and prevention\, both in the U.S. and around the globe. \n\n\n\nDr. Walensky is a member of the American Academy of Physicians\, National Academy of Medicine\, and Council on Foreign Relations. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Doris Duke Foundation and The Carter Center. She is also a founding member and Medical Affairs Advisor at the Vaccine Integrity Project\, which is dedicated to providing trusted\, science-based information for informed vaccine choices. \n\n\n\nDr. Walensky received her BA (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology\, 1991) from Washington University in St. Louis; her MD from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (1995) and her MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health (Clinical Effectiveness\, 2001). She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (1995-1998) and her Infectious Disease fellowship at the Massachusetts General/Brigham and Women’s Hospital combined program (1998-2001).
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2026/05/maternal-tdap-vaccine-webinar/
CATEGORIES:Event,Infectious Diseases,Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T130000
DTSTAMP:20260701T172322Z
CREATED:20260622T193639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T172322Z
UID:64049-1782820800-1782824400@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:Behind the Ebola outbreak: An expert backgrounder for journalists
DESCRIPTION:As a widespread outbreak of the little-known Ebola Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda continues to command global attention and generate controversy\, accurate and nuanced reporting has never been more important.  \n\n\n\nJoin the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) and the Expert Vaccine Analysis Team (EVAT) for a one-hour briefing and discussion that will help journalists and other communicators build a deeper understanding of the virus — including its epidemiology and spread\, strategies for containment\, what the US needs to do to be prepared\, and the latest advances in vaccines and treatments.  \n\n\n\nThis one-hour webinar brings together prominent\, experienced voices in infectious disease\, public health\, and vaccines to walk reporters through the core science in plain\, accessible terms\, including:  \n\n\n\n\nCraig Spencer\, M.D.\, MPH\, an emergency medicine physician and Associate Professor at Brown University. He was deeply involved in the 2014 Ebola response in Guinea\, both as a physician responding to the outbreak and then\, as a survivor of the disease.\n\n\n\nDaniel Jernigan\, M.D.\, a former CDC leader of multiple responses to public health emergencies\, including the 2014 Ebola response in Sierra Leone and in the US.\n\n\n\nMary Bassett\, M.D.\, MPH\, Professor at the Harvard University School of Public Health who was New York City’s Health Commissioner from 2014–2018\, leading its Ebola response.\n\n\n\nPhilip Krause\, M.D.\, a virologist and infectious diseases specialist who serves as Chair of WHO COVID Vaccines Research Expert Group. He was formerly Deputy Director of FDA’s Office of Vaccines Research and Review. \n\n\n\n\nThe session will be moderated by AHCJ’s Tara Haelle and incorporate ample time for Q&A.  \n\n\n\nWho Should Attend? \n\n\n\n\nScience\, health\, and international affairs journalists seeking authoritative background for their Ebola coverage. \n\n\n\nPublic health professionals and others who want a better understanding of the current Ebola landscape.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nTara Haelle\n\n\n\nAHCJ Health Beat Leader for Infectious Diseases and Medical StudiesTara Haelle is AHCJ’s health beat leader for infectious diseases and medical studies. She’s an independent science/health journalist\, author\, speaker\, and photographer. Her work has appeared in the National Geographic\, Scientific American\, Texas Monthly\, Science News\, Medscape/WebMD\, The New York Times\, Wired\, and O Magazine\, among others. She specializes in public health and medical research\, particularly vaccines\, infectious disease\, maternal and pediatric health\, mental health\, healthcare disparities\, and misinformation. She also covers medical research conferences and edits Long COVID Connection on Medium. Haelle earned a master’s in photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin\, and her images have appeared in Texas Monthly\, NPR\, the\, Chicago Sun-Times and elsewhere. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Bassett\, M.D.\, MPH\n\n\n\nProfessor of the practice of health and human rights\, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthMary T. Bassett is the Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University\, as well as the FXB Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health. With more than 30 years of experience in public health\, Dr. Mary Travis Bassett has dedicated her career to advancing health equity. Prior to her directorship at the FXB Center\, Dr. Bassett served for four years as commissioner of Health for New York City. As commissioner\, she worked to ensure that every New York City neighborhood supported the health of its residents\, with the goal of closing gaps in population health across the city. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDaniel Jernigan\, M.D.\, MPH\n\n\n\nFormer director\, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases\, CDCDaniel B. Jernigan\, M.D.\, MPH\, recently resigned his position as Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Jernigan completed training at Duke University and Baylor College of Medicine and has completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine. \n\n\n\nHe entered the CDC in 1994 as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer\, and has been studying respiratory and emerging diseases since that time. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service and was the recipient of the 2019 Service to America Medal. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhilip Krause\, M.D.\n\n\n\nChair\, WHO COVID Vaccines Research Expert GroupDr. Krause was for the past decade Deputy Director\, Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR) at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Dr. Krause is currently Chair of the World Health Organization COVID Vaccines Research Expert Group\, and most recently he shared responsibility for regulatory authorizations of COVID-19 vaccines in the US. \n\n\n\nIn a 30-year career at FDA Dr. Krause has collaborated at the highest levels with international and US domestic stakeholders including the European Medicines Association (EMA)\, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)\, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCraig Spencer\, M.D.\, MPH\n\n\n\nPublic health professor and emergency medicine physician\, Brown University School of Public HealthCraig Spencer\, M.D.\, MPH is an emergency medicine physician\, public health researcher\, and Associate Professor of the Practice of Health Services\, Policy\, and Practice at Brown University School of Public Health. His work spans global health and domestic community engagement — connecting nearly two decades of frontline humanitarian experience to an emerging body of research and practice focused on rebuilding public trust in American health institutions. \n\n\n\nDr. Spencer’s field work has taken him across Africa and Southeast Asia as a physician and epidemiologist with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)\, including leading outbreak investigations in Burundi\, the Democratic Republic of Congo\, South Sudan\, and Chad\, and serving as a coordinator of MSF’s national epidemiological response during the West Africa Ebola epidemic.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/behind-the-ebola-outbreak-an-expert-backgrounder-for-journalists/
CATEGORIES:Event,Infectious Diseases,Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260701T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260701T160000
DTSTAMP:20260702T154258Z
CREATED:20260623T164219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T154258Z
UID:64068-1782918000-1782921600@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:How a new White House proposal could fundamentally change American science
DESCRIPTION:The second Trump administration has created upheaval in the biomedical research community. Widespread grant terminations\, fast-changing policy changes\, and proposals to downsize federal spending have created unease among a group that has largely been able to lean on the government as a partner.  \n\n\n\nIn late May\, another move caught the attention of many in the world of science: a 412-page proposal to change the regulation governing all contracts with the federal government. Issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget\, the plan would alter the lay of the land for all research grants. Among the changes is a de-prioritization of peer review and greater latitude for political appointees to terminate grants.  \n\n\n\nIt has garnered widespread attention from the scientific community because of the potentially wide-ranging impacts of the proposal. Join a STAT reporter who has covered the issue\, a former NIH official\, a government relations professional and a leading research for an exploration of this specific policy and what your audience may want to know before the public comment period closes on July 13. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nAnil Oza\n\n\n\nGeneral assignment reporter\, STATAnil Oza is a general assignment reporter at STAT\, where he covers health equity & the NIH. He previously covered all things science\, from grassroots efforts to study the effect of urban heat to the elusiveness of urban rats\, for NPR’s Short Wave\, Science News\, and Nature. He got his start as the assistant managing editor and science editor of his college newspaper\, The Cornell Daily Sun\, where he covered the Covid-19 pandemic. His coverage of the Trump administration’s upheaval of federally-funded research was part of a package of stories that won a 2026 George Polk Award\, and 3rd place in AHCJ’s awards for excellence in health policy. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSean Gallagher\n\n\n\nDeputy director of federal relations\, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Mr. Gallagher serves as AAAS’ liaison to Congress and the executive branch. After spending 7 years on Capitol Hill\, he now spearheads grassroots efforts and focuses on engaging and encouraging scientists to demonstrate their value to their peers\, the media\, and policymakers. Sean has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and received his Bachelor’s in Political Science from Villanova University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nElizabeth Ginexi\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nIndependent health science consultantFormer senior program official\, National Institutes of Health (NIH)Dr. Elizabeth Ginexi served the National Institutes of Health for 22 years as a Program Official\, shaping biomedical and behavioral health research strategy. During her tenure\, she managed a portfolio of 305 grants totaling $132 million across several institutes and centers\, and co-authored 18 funding initiatives that generated 1\,087 projects totaling $778 million spanning mental health\, substance use prevention\, pain management\, data science\, and health services research. She left NIH in April 2025 because she witnessed the new leadership replacing NIH’s scientifically-driven system with one that is politically directed and violates the Public Health Service Act of 1944. She has been writing about the dismantling of the NIH on substack since December 2025. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEric Rubin\, M.D.\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nEditor-in-chief\, The New England Journal of Medicine\, NEJM GroupEric J. Rubin\, M.D.\, Ph.D.\, joined the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and NEJM Group as Editor-in-Chief in September 2019\, taking on the responsibility for oversight of all editorial content and policies. \n\n\n\nDr. Rubin is an Associate Physician specializing in infectious disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He serves on several scientific advisory boards to groups interested in infectious disease therapeutics. Dr. Rubin has also previously served as the Associate Editor for Infectious Disease at the New England Journal of Medicine as well as an editor for several basic science journals including PLoS Pathogens\, Tuberculosis\, and mBio.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2026/07/how-a-new-white-house-proposal-could-fundamentally-change-american-science/
CATEGORIES:Event,Health Policy,Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260819T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260819T140000
DTSTAMP:20260819T215605Z
CREATED:20260721T162929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T215605Z
UID:64677-1787144400-1787148000@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:Covering health care affordability: A big story with major impact
DESCRIPTION:In the first entry in a series for STAT News\, “Out of Pocket\, Out of Reach\,” reporter Bob Herman showed that since 1987\, the cost of health insurance for employers and workers has risen by 979% while overall inflation in that time rose by 176%\, an increase of more than 450%. Such huge increases are harming workers and businesses of all sizes\, as his reporting demonstrates. \n\n\n\nAbout 80% of companies with fewer than 200 workers offered health insurance in the late 1990s\, he reported\, while only 59% do so today. Instead\, workers are steered toward the Affordable Care Act Marketplace\, where they pay higher premiums than ever. Mid-sized and large employers cut staff when health insurance costs rise. When employers cut staff\, communities suffer as unemployment rises\, leading to suicides and drug and alcohol abuse\, researchers have reported. \n\n\n\nJoin Bob Herman and Joe Burns\, AHCJ’s Health Beat Leader for Health Policy and Insurance\, for a conversation and Q&A about a topic that applies to every town\, city and state as small businesses struggle with rising insurance costs and employees face daunting financial decisions. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nJoseph Burns\n\n\n\nAHCJ Health Beat Leader for Health Policy\, InsuranceJoseph Burns is AHCJ’s health beat leader on health policy and insurance. He’s an independent journalist based in Brewster\, Mass.\, who has covered health care\, health policy and the business of care since 1991. Burns has written for a variety of publications\, including The New York Times\, Fortune\, Hospitals & Health Networks\, and Medical Economics\, among others.  \n\n\n\nEarly in his journalism career\, Burns worked as a reporter in Connecticut\, first for The Wallingford Post (a weekly)\, and then The Meriden Record-Journal (a daily)\, and later for The Hartford Courant (the largest daily newspaper in the state and the nation’s oldest newspaper). For The Courant\, he was a reporter\, copy editor and regional news editor. During this time\, he also taught news writing at the University of Connecticut. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBob Herman\n\n\n\nBusiness of Health Care Reporter\, STATBob Herman covers the money in health care\, focusing on health insurance and hospitals. His stories delve into Medicare Advantage\, opaque prescription drug benefits\, and how much executives actually make. He was named a Pulitzer co-finalist in 2024 for the series “Denied by AI.” He co-won a 2025 George Polk Award for the series “Health Care’s Colossus.” Bob also writes the weekly Health Care Inc. newsletter. \n\n\n\nBefore joining STAT in 2022\, Bob worked at Axios and Modern Healthcare. He graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis. He lives in Indiana and is obsessed with basketball and running.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2026/08/covering-health-care-affordability-a-big-story-with-major-impact/
CATEGORIES:Event,Insurance,Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260828T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260828T120000
DTSTAMP:20260828T214621Z
CREATED:20260821T205333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T214621Z
UID:65270-1787914800-1787918400@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:Everyone's talking about peptides: What reporters should know
DESCRIPTION:Peptides made headlines this summer when an FDA advisory panel decided compounding pharmacies could prepare six peptides for patients with a prescription. Great news for wellness influencers\, celebrities and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — among the many people who have touted the benefits of peptides for muscle growth\, fat loss\, anti-aging and enhanced athletic performance. But what are peptides\, and are they safe?  \n\n\n\nIn this webinar\, medical experts Dhruv Khullar\, an associate professor of health policy and economics at Weill Cornell Medical College\, and Rachel Frank\, professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine\, will help you get a handle on what you need to know about peptides\, what the media often gets wrong when reporting on them\, and what stories still deserve to be explored. As always\, the discussion will be followed by a Q&A. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nKaren Blum\n\n\n\nAHCJ’s Health Beat Leader for AI and Patient SafetyKaren Blum is a Baltimore-based freelance writer who covers AI and patient safety for the Association of Health Care Journalists. She writes about health\, medicine and science for a variety of outlets. Her articles have appeared in the Baltimore Sun\, AARP\, Cure\, Medscape\, and numerous medical trade magazines such as Anesthesiology News\, Pharmacy Practice News\, Clinical Oncology News\, Kidney News\, Clinical Laboratory News and Ophthalmology Management. She also has written profiles and feature articles for alumni and association magazines and offers copy editing services. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nAnna Medaris\n\n\n\nAHCJ’s Freelance Beat LeaderAnna Medaris is AHCJ’s Freelance Beat Leader and head of the association’s New York City chapter. A health and lifestyle journalist with more than 15 years of experience\, she’s written for publications including The Washington Post\, Women’s Health\, New York Magazine\, the New York Post\, AARP\, Business Insider and US New & World Report. She’s also appeared as a health expert on the “TODAY Show\,” “Good Morning America” and Hulu’s “Age of Influence.” Anna is a graduate of the University of Michigan\, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa\, and of American University\, where she earned her master’s in interactive journalism. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRachel Frank\, M.D.\n\n\n\nProfessor in Orthopaedic Surgery\, University of Colorado School of MedicineRachel Frank\, M.D.\, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine surgeon. Frank serves as professor in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine\, is head orthopaedic surgeon for the Colorado Rapids professional soccer team\, and is a team physician for US Soccer. Frank has authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed journal articles\, over 50 book chapters\, and presents her research both nationally and internationally at orthopaedic meetings every year. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDhruv Khullar\, M.D.\, M.P.P.\n\n\n\nAssociate Professor of Health Policy and Economics\, Weill Cornell Medical CollegeDhruv Khullar\, M.D.\, M.P.P.\, is a physician and associate professor of health policy and economics at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is also a writer at The New Yorker\, where he covers medicine\, health care\, and politics. He serves as director of The Physicians Foundation Center for the Study of Physician Practice and Leadership\, and associate director of the Cornell Health Policy Center. His research focuses on value-based care\, health care consolidation\, and medical innovation\, and has been published in JAMA and The New England Journal of Medicine. \n\n\n\nKhullar earned his medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine and completed his medical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He also received a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School\, where he was a fellow at the Center for Public Leadership. He has been recognized by the National Academy of Medicine as an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine\, the National Minority Quality Forum as a 40 Under 40 Leader in Health\, and FASPE with the 2019 Distinguished Fellow Award for Ethical Leadership. His writing was featured in The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2025.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/peptides-what-reporters-should-know/
CATEGORIES:AI and Patient Safety,Event,Freelancers,Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T140000
DTSTAMP:20260923T154303Z
CREATED:20260902T223055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T154303Z
UID:65489-1790168400-1790172000@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:The impact of data centers on the environment and health in rural areas
DESCRIPTION:Rural Health Webinar Series\n\n\n\nThis webinar is Part 4 of our 2026 Rural Health Webinar Series. Attend at least four of our five sessions\, complete a brief knowledge check and earn an AHCJ Certification in Covering Rural Health for your resume. Learn more » \n\n\n\n\n\nAs AI fuels data center construction across the country\, many headlines have already focused on the pervasive environmental impacts\, including air pollution\, water use\, noise\, energy demand and environmental justice intersections. The policy\, research and national discourse on this topic are moving quickly. How can journalists cut through the common frames to find fresh angles and untold stories? This webinar brings together panelists broaching this question from different angles\, including public health research\, community advocacy and investigative journalism.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator: Katie Burke\, senior contributing editor\, American Scientist\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nKatie Burke\n\n\n\nSenior contributing editor\, American Scientist \n\n\n\nKatie L. Burke is an award-winning editor and serves as senior contributing editor at American Scientist. Burke has a doctorate in biology and a rich background in conservation\, forest history\, and disease ecology\, bringing a profound understanding of scientific nuances to her work. \n\n\n\nShe was previously AHCJ’s Health Beat Leader for Environmental Health. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNeha Gour\, Ph.D. candidate in science communication\, George Mason University\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNeha Gour\n\n\n\nPh.D. candidate in science communication\, George Mason UniversityAffiliated researcher\, Center for Climate Change Communication \n\n\n\nNeha Gour is a Ph.D. candidate in Science Communication at George Mason University and an affiliated researcher with the Center for Climate Change Communication. Her work examines the intersections of AI infrastructure\, climate change\, public health and public policy. Using quantitative methods\, she generates and evaluates empirical evidence to inform policy\, public communication and decision-making. Neha’s research has included collaborations with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy\, the Government of the City of Fairfax\, the World Health Organization\, UNESCO\, and Oxford Policy Management\, among others. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMichael Cork\, Ph.D.\, founder and CEO\, EmPower Analytics Group\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMichael Cork\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nFounder and CEO\, EmPower Analytics Group \n\n\n\nDr. Michael Cork is an environmental health scientist and Founder & CEO of EmPower Analytics Group\, an independent scientific firm that quantifies the public health and economic impacts of energy infrastructure. His work combines atmospheric modeling\, epidemiology\, and health economics to evaluate how power generation associated with AI infrastructure\, data centers\, and other large industrial facilities affects surrounding communities.  \n\n\n\nHis analyses have informed permitting decisions\, supported environmental law organizations\, local governments\, and community organizations\, and have been featured by national media including The New York Times and Politico. Dr. Cork earned his PhD in Biostatistics from Harvard University\, where his research focused on the health effects of air pollution and statistical methods used to inform national air quality standards. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvan Simon\, investigative producer\, Floodlight News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvan Simon\n\n\n\nInvestigative producer\, Floodlight News \n\n\n\nEvan Simon is an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker known for groundbreaking environmental investigations into plastic recycling claims\, abandoned oil wells\, and the controversial power sources fueling the AI data center boom. Simon previously worked for the ABC News Investigative Unit and The Wall Street Journal. He is currently leading video and visual investigations at Floodlight\, a nonprofit collaborative newsroom dedicated to climate investigations\, where his multimedia reporting has been co-published by PBS\, The Guardian\, WIRED Magazine\, High Country News\, and Mother Jones\, among others. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReed Omary\, M.D.\, Physician\, writer and strategist\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Reed Omary\n\n\n\nProfessor\, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering\, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterFounder\, The Greenwell Project \n\n\n\nReed A. Omary\, MD\, MS\, is a physician\, writer\, speaker\, and nonprofit founder based in Nashville. He is Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and founder of Greenwell Project. A strong communicator of the future\, Dr. Omary speaks to healthcare and lay audiences across the world on planetary health\, sustainable healthcare\, and the health impacts of AI infrastructure.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/event/rural-health-2026-part-4-data-centers/
CATEGORIES:Environmental Health,Rural Health 2026,Workshops | Summits
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T130000
DTSTAMP:20260918T222154Z
CREATED:20260918T220307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T222154Z
UID:65769-1791288000-1791291600@healthjournalism.org
SUMMARY:Fact and fiction on measles and respiratory virus vaccines
DESCRIPTION:Respiratory virus season is approaching\, on top of ever-expanding measles outbreaks and continuing vaccine misinformation\, including from the highest levels of government. It’s a lot for health journalists to cover\, and audiences have many questions. This webinar\, with infectious disease experts Jesse Goodman (Georgetown University and the Expert Vaccine Analysis Team – EVAT)\, Fiona Havers (Emory University)\, Paul Offit (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and EVAT)\, and immunologist Elisabeth Marnik (The Evidence Collective)\, will provide answers on whether COVID vaccines will be recommended and available to everyone and at what cost; what we know about the new mRNA flu vaccine and its safety; and the best course for expectant parents\, among other topics.  \n\n\n\nWe’ll also share the facts about the ongoing measles outbreak and related deaths in Pennsylvania\, whether the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is likely to split into three different shots\, and generally address misinformation\, rumors\, and misconceptions about vaccines and infectious diseases. Join us to get the answers to these questions and\, perhaps most importantly\, learn how to address false information and present the facts in engaging\, matter-of-fact\, accessible ways. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModerator\n\n\n\n\nTara Haelle\n\n\n\nAHCJ’s Health Beat Leader for Infectious Diseases and Medical StudiesTara Haelle is AHCJ’s health beat leader for infectious diseases and medical studies. She’s an independent science/health journalist\, author\, speaker\, and photographer. Her work has appeared in the National Geographic\, Scientific American\, Texas Monthly\, Science News\, Medscape/WebMD\, The New York Times\, Wired\, and O Magazine\, among others. She specializes in public health and medical research\, particularly vaccines\, infectious disease\, maternal and pediatric health\, mental health\, healthcare disparities\, and misinformation. She also covers medical research conferences and edits Long COVID Connection on Medium. Haelle earned a master’s in photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin\, and her images have appeared in Texas Monthly\, NPR\, the\, Chicago Sun-Times and elsewhere. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJesse Goodman\, M.D.\, MPH\n\n\n\nProfessor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases and Attending Physician at Georgetown UniversityJesse L. Goodman\, MD\, MPH is Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases and Attending Physician at Georgetown University. He was previously Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota where his laboratory isolated the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis.  \n\n\n\nFrom 2003-9 he served as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)\, regulating vaccines\, blood and cell and gene therapies\, and then as Chief Scientist of the US FDA until 2014\, serving in US leadership for numerous public health responses. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has served on numerous WHO\, CDC\, NIH\, NAM and other advisory committees and previously served as a member of GSK’s board\, chairing its science committee. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFiona Havers\, M.D.\n\n\n\nInfectious Diseases Physician\, Emory University School of Medicine; Attending Physician\, Grady Memorial HospitalFiona Havers\, MD\, MHS\, FIDSA\, is an infectious diseases physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine. She is a former medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Havers is a senior subject matter expert on vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases and vaccine policy. She was the CDC lead of the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) Team in the Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division within the U.S. CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Dr. Havers oversaw the COVID-19 and RSV platforms within RESP-NET\, a population-based surveillance platform that covers ~9% of the US population and collects data on COVID-19\, RSV\, and influenza-associated hospitalizations. Dr. Havers left CDC in June 2025. \n\n\n\nThe author of >100 publications while at CDC\, Dr. Havers’ research interests have focused on the epidemiology\, prevention\, treatment and vaccine policy for vaccine-preventable respiratory pathogens\, including influenza\, pertussis\, RSV and SARS-CoV-2. She was previously the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Work Group lead for the Pertussis Vaccines Work Group and has worked extensively on COVID-19 and adult RSV vaccine policy\, including as senior author on the initial adult RSV vaccine ACIP policy recommendations published in 2023. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPaul A. Offit\, M.D.\n\n\n\nDirector\, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education CenterPaul A. Offit\, M.D.\, is the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well as the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology and a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Offit is currently a voting member on the FDA’s Vaccine Advisory Committee and has previously served on the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices to the CDC. He is also the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine\, RotaTeq\, recommended for universal use in infants by the CDC in 2006 and by the WHO in 2013. This vaccine was estimated recently to save about 165\,000 lives a year. He is also the author of 11 books written for the public about science\, medicine\, and vaccines. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nElisabeth Marnik\, Ph.D.\n\n\n\nExecutive Director\, The Evidence CollectiveDr. Elisabeth Adkins Marnik is a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust\, science\, and public health. She earned her PhD in genetics and immunology from Tufts University. \n\n\n\nRaised in a family that distrusted science and vaccines\, Liz brings a personal understanding of hesitancy to her work. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, she launched Science Whiz Liz to help the public navigate emerging health information\, combining lived experience with scientific expertise. Liz now leads national efforts to translate evidence into clear\, responsible\, and empathetic public communication. She is an inaugural member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Building Trust in Health Science Through Community Partnership and Lived Experience and was named to Mainebiz’s 2025 40 Under 40 for her leadership in science education and public engagement.
URL:https://healthjournalism.org/event/fact-and-fiction-on-measles-and-respiratory-virus-vaccines/
CATEGORIES:Event,Infectious Diseases,Public Health,Webinar
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