In this episode of the 5 Second Rule, hosts Kelly and Lerenza interview Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine scientist and autism parent, who shares his insights from the recent COVID-19 pandemic and provides strategies to better equip IPC programs for the future. His enlightened advice about anticipating and preparing for emerging infections, combined with his inspiring view of addressing vaccine skepticism, makes this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to protect their community from infectious diseases.

Hosted by:

Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC

Further Resources:

The Deadly Rise of Anti-science

About our Guest:

Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine

Hotez is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, and Professor of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also the Director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. Additionally, Hotez is University Professor at Baylor University and a Fellow in Disease and Poverty at the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Hotez was among the first to predict Zika’s emergence in the U.S. and has served on infectious disease task forces for two consecutive Texas Governors. As an internationally recognized physician-scientist in tropical diseases and vaccine development, he is called upon frequently to testify before Congress. While at the Clinton Global Initiative, Hotez co-founded the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. In 2017, he was named by Fortune magazine as one of the 34 most influential people in healthcare; in 2018, he was appointed by the U.S. State Department to serve on the Board of Governors for the U.S. Israel Binational Science Foundation. Hotez received the Sackler Award in Sustained Leadership from Research!America. He was also the recipient of APIC’s 2022 Distinguished Scientist Award.