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Posted 29 July 2022

ASTMH at Work in COVID-19

Society Efforts Visible in Journal, News Media, Advocacy and Webinars

 
 

ASTMH has been actively represented in just about every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic as public health practitioners, healthcare workers and researchers. We are being tapped by the news media as experts and writing op-ed pieces about the need for outbreak support. Our Journal has published hundreds of new papers on the topic and we have provided free webinars about this novel coronavirus. The Society has been busy, too, on the policy front advocating for support and needed funds to respond and prepare for future outbreaks.

 

Our ASTMH staff has been monitoring the efforts of many of our members and leadership during this crisis. While not a comprehensive list, we offer below a sample of where your fellow members have appeared in the public spotlight during the last few years.

 
The Journal 

 


 

The Journal has been giving high priority to all COVID-19 manuscripts during the pandemic. Accepted manuscripts are posted to the  almost immediately. 

At least four of the Journal's COVID-19 papers have been reported in the news media:
 


Covid-19 may have seasons for different temperature zones, study suggests
Journal study reported.
 
 

Journal study reported.
 

Research from a Journal article reported.
 

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine study referenced.
 
National and International News Media Coverage

A sampling of ASTMH leaders tapped by the media as experts in the COVID-19 pandemic:

 
An Infectious Disease Doctor’s Personal Experience With Covid: It Wasn’t 'Just' A Bad Cold
Authored by Mark Kortepeter, president of the Clinical Group subgroup. 
 
U.S. to lift coronavirus testing requirement for flyers returning to the country
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman and member Henry Wu. 
Testing Positive and Using the 'Backdoor' t Get Into the U.S.
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman. 
COVID-19 vaccines didn’t cause monkeypox outbreak
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman and member Andrea McCollum. 
 
To wear a mask, or not, on public transportation? Which is the right move for you?
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman. 
You don't have to wear a mask on planes. Do it anyway, experts say.
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman. 
Airlines say mask mandates aren't needed anymore. Are filters enough to prevent COVID on airplanes?
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman. 
For Airlines, the Mask Mandate Couldn’t End Soon Enough
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman.
Masks Stay On: C.D.C. Keeps the Mandate on Planes
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman and member Aisha Khatib. 
From the COVID Trenches, a Plea to Follow the Facts and Vaccinate Children
Co-authored by 2019 President Chandy John.

This New COVID Variant Is the Most Unpredictable One Yet
With comment from 2011 President Peter Hotez.
What's the Deal With Masks on Planes?
With comment from President-Elect David Freedman and member Aisha Khatib. 


 

Coronaviruses care 'clever': Evolutionary scenarios for the future of SARS-CoV-2
1996 President Donald S. Burke authored this article.


 
Desperate for a holiday but battling plane anxiety? From the best masks for protection to canny tricks to avoid the crowds, how to have a stress-free trip.
President-Elect David Freedman was interviewed.


 

Yes, Omicron Is Loosening Its Hold. But the Pandemic Has Not Ended.
Member Anne Rimoin was interviewed.


 

Fears of COVID-19 spread at crowded gatherings grows as winter approaches
Scientific Program Chair Christine Petersen was interviewed.
 

Covid-19 overtakes 1918 Spanish flu as deadliest disease in American history
David Morens, Past-Chair of the ACAV subgroup, was quoted.
 

Wild U.S. deer found with coronavirus antibodies
President-Elect Dan Bausch was interviewed.
 

How Did It Come to This? 
Trainee Member Committee member Krutika Kuppalli was quoted.
 

'My biggest fear is we will forget'
President-Elect Dan Bausch was interviewed.
 

Ask the Doctors:Vaccinations and the Summer Ahead
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 

'Massachusetts is open for business': Lifting of pandemic restrictions brings surprise, elation
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 

Boston Epidemiologist Reacts To CDC Dropping Mask Mandate For Vaccinated People
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 

4 Mass Vaccination Sites To Close By End Of June As State Nears Goal Of 4.1 Million Fully Vaccinated
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 

Purdue scientists use malaria expertise to track COVID-19 variants

The work of member Giovanna Carpi is featured.
 
 

The Politics of Stopping Pandemics

The article discusses the new book by 2011 President Peter Hotez, Preventing the Next Pandemic.
 


Headed to Fenway for Opening Day? What doctors say you should know about your coronavirus risk.

Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
Preventing Pandemics and Ending Malaria Demand New Investments in Community Health
Co-written by Robert Newman, Past President of the ASTMH Committee on Global Health (ACGH)

 
 
Five myths about coronavirus vaccines
Written by 2011 President Peter Hotez and member Maria Elena Bottazzi
 
 
How Effective is the First Shot of the Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine?
Authored by 2003 President William A. Petri, Jr.
 
 
 
 
3. Welle! So kriegt Sachsen die Kurve
Member Kristan Schneider is featured.
 
 
 
 
Fear among health officials of variant spread as Texas reopens
2011 President Peter Hotez was interviewed.
 
 
 
Vaccines are needed to end the pandemic, prevent serious illness
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
President Julie Jacobson was interviewed.
 
 
 
President-Elect Dan Bausch was interviewed.
 
 
 
Does wearing two masks provide more protection?
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
 
Virus will kill many more, WH projects as briefings resume
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
 
 
Vaccines Take a While to Kick In. Experts Say That Means the Body Is Doing Its Job
Trainee Member Committee member Krutika Kuppalli was quoted.
 
 

How soon wil Americans get access to a COVID-19 vaccine?
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
 

Rachel Maddow Show (audio only)
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed about wasterwater surveillance of COVID-19 in the Boston area.
 
 

A Covid Vaccine Has Arrived. Get Ready for the Rollout
President-Elect Dan Bausch was quoted.
 
 
 

Confused About Changes to Mass. COVID Data? We Asked Experts to Explain Them
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
 

Vaccine Expert: Once A COVID Vaccine Is Available, 'Don't Overthink It. Don't Wait'
Past President Peter Hotez interviewed on the program "Fresh Air."
 
 
 


A Member of Congress and a Doctor Have Voting Advice for You
Trainee Member Committee member Krutika Kuppalli co-authored this opinion piece.
 
 
 


How To Keep Schools Safe As College Students Return To Campus?
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 

 

 
 


The US Passes A Grim Death Toll, And An About-Face At The CDC
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 

 

 
 


The World Health Organization: Lifeline for the World's Children
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 


Boston Concerned About Spread Of Coronavirus With Return Of Off-Campus Students
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.










 
 

Testing delays are hurting the effort to contain COVID-19
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 








 
 

VERIFY: Can mosquitoes spread COVID-19?
Past President Stephen Higgs, PhD, FRES, FASTMH, was interviewed.
 
 
 


Coronavirus Outbreaks Linked to Fraternity Houses Are a Warning for College Campuses
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer
 
 

Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safe To Dine Indoors — Or Outdoors?
Mark Kortepeter, Scientific Program Subcommittee Chair for Clinical Tropical Medicine, was interviewed.
 
 


Play ball? Experts send mixed signals on MLB 60-game season
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer interviewed.
 
 


Ebola finally defeated, Congo faces COVID-19 
Members Jean-Jacques Muyembe, PhD, and Ann Rimoin, PhD, MPH, FASTMH, are interviewed.

 
 
 

This Scientist Is Searching For A Vaccine To World’s Second-Most Devastating Parasite
Student Member Amanda Elyssa Ruiz was interviewed and referred to being inspired by one of last year's Annual Meeting keynote speakers, Abhay Bang.
 
 

Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safe To Dine Indoors — Or Outdoors?
Mark Kortepeter, Scientific Program Subcommittee Chair for Clinical Tropical Medicine, was interviewed for this Q&A.
 
 


Participants needed for study aiming to prevent COVID-19 spread within households
Board Member Miriam Laufer interviewed.
 


Infectious disease specialist helps QU make decisions regarding pandemic
Secretary-Treasurer David R. Hill interviewed.
 

Writing on the wall
Board Member David Hamer interviewed.
 


'It's absolutely horrifying': Coronavirus expert warns of dire health crisis amid Texas surge
Past President Peter Hotez interviewed.
 


Coronavirus Frontlines
Mark Kortepeter, Scientific Program Subcommittee Chair for Clinical Tropical Medicine, has contributed to a series of articles in Forbes.
 



Wear a Mask — That’s How We Stop Covid-19 Together
May Chu, Co-Chair of the Innovations Pitch Competition hosted at the Annual Meeting, authored this commentary.
 

A Growing Body Of Research Highlights The Importance Of Wearing Face Masks
May Chu was interviewed.

 
 

Hydroxychloroquine, a drug promoted by Trump, failed to prevent healthy people from getting covid-19 in trial
Lifetime Member David Boulware is senior investigator for this trial.
 

Low- and middle-income countries face up to COVID-19
Past President Peter J. Hotez and member Louise Ivers interviewed.
 

Past President Peter J. Hotez interviewed.
 

Q&A with William A. Petri, Jr., a Past President, past Scientific Program Chair, last year's Ben Kean Medal recipient and longtime supporter of our Young Investigator Awards.
 

Q&A with Past President and past Scientific Program Chair William A. Petri, Jr.
 

Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer answered caller questions during the Morning Edition and All Things Considered programs on WBUR-FM (NPR, Boston).
 

Bailey K. Ashford Medal recipient Louise Ivers interviewed.
 

2019 Fellow Anne Rimoin featured.
 

Scientific Program Chair Dan Bausch interviewed.
 

Scientific Program Chair Dan Bausch interviewed.
 

 cautioning the use of antimalarials for COVID-19 is cited.
 

Past President Peter J. Hotez interviewed.
 

Board Member Albert Ko interviewed at 5:55 into this report.
 

Past President Peter J. Hotez interviewed.
 

President Joel G. Breman and other members of ASTMH were among 55 signatories from 20 countries joining a call for urgent efforts to demand safe, quality medicines for COVID-19.
 

ASTMH and other members joined a COVID-19 coalition to support resource-limited settings.
 

Scientific Program Chair Dan Bausch provided comments.
 

Global Health subgroup member Jessica Manning featured.
 

This article mentioned the  applauding swift passage of emergency funding for the coronavirus outbreak.
 

President Joel G. Breman quoted.
 

Scientific Program Chair Daniel G. Bausch interviewed.
 

Authored by President Joel G. Breman.
 

Past President Chandy C. John interviewed.

Public Policy and Advocacy

The Society has been active on the policy front advocating for support and needed funds to respond to and prepare for future outbreaks.
 

.
 

ASTMH released a statement on the need to protect the integrity of the peer-review process and joined with IDSA, the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of America (PIDS) in a.
 

 

ASTMH released a statement opposing the Trump Administration's decision to withhold U.S. funding from WHO.
 

 

The Society sent a letter of concern to the FDA regarding its Emergency Use Authorization of antimalarials for COVID-19 treatment.
 

ASTMH released a statement applauding Congress and the White House for swift passage of an $8.3 billion Emergency Coronavirus Funding Package.
 

Past Presidents sent a letter to the White House supporting federal scientists in COVID-19.

Webinars

ASTMH has a wealth of experience in its leaders that is evident as they present and organize webinars about COVID-19.
 

Scientific Program Chair Daniel G. Bausch presented to the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.
 

Past President Patricia F. Walker organized and moderated the ASTMH/International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) joint webinar, which featured Eric Schwartz, Refugees International; Paul B. Spiegel, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Martin Cetron, CDC.

In Other News

Even as COVID-19 dominates the news, ASTMH leaders continue to be sourced as experts on other issues in the tropmed community.
 

2015 Hoogstraal Medal Recipient Durland Fish authored this article.
 

Past ACME Chair Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec was interviewed about vector control in Mexico.
 

Profile of Sanaria with CEO and Chief Scientific Officer Stephen L. Hoffman, an ASTMH past President. Member Peter Billingsley is Vice President of International Projects and Strategy.
 
 

How soon wil Americans get access to a COVID-19 vaccine?
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
Does wearing two masks provide more protection?
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.
 
 
Fear among health officials of variant spread as Texas reopens
2011 President Peter Hotez was interviewed.
 
 
 
3. Welle! So kriegt Sachsen die Kurve
Member Kristan Schneider is featured.
 
 
 

The Politics of Stopping Pandemics

The article discusses the new book by 2011 President Peter Hotez, Preventing the Next Pandemic.
 
Five myths about coronavirus vaccines
Written by 2011 President Peter Hotez and member Maria Elena Bottazzi
 

'Massachusetts is open for business': Lifting of pandemic restrictions brings surprise, elation
Board member and Journal Section Editor David Hamer was interviewed.


 

Yes, Omicron Is Loosening Its Hold. But the Pandemic Has Not Ended.
Member Anne Rimoin was interviewed.


 
Desperate for a holiday but battling plane anxiety? From the best masks for protection to canny tricks to avoid the crowds, how to have a stress-free trip.
President-Elect David O. Freedman was interviewed.