Infectious Diseases

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Professor Lucy Wilson

Dr. Lucy Wilson, professor of Emergency Health Services at University of Maryland Baltimore County, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about why the Seattle outbreak is an important bellwether for the rest of the country in terms of protecting vulnerable populations and what facilities and first responders can do to control and stop outbreaks like COVID-19.

Published March 13, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Thomas V. Inglesby, MD

Can people without symptoms spread COVID-19? Can children get COVID-19? Should you cancel an upcoming gathering? Are school closures helpful? If you’ve had COVID-19, are you immune? Are men more affected than women? Dr. Tom Inglesby from the Center for Health Security answers these and some of the most asked questions.

Published March 13, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Georges Benjamin, MD

Weak points in the U.S.’s health and social policies—like paid sick leave and universal health coverage—disproportionately affect underserved communities. COVID-19 may present added challenges for these populations. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks to Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, about public health’s role in preventing communities from being left behind.

Published March 12, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Gabor Kelen, MD

What role do local health departments play in outbreaks, and how are they preparing for COVID-19? As Commissioner of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health in Ohio, Terry Allan is responsible for the well-being of over 850,000 people. Allan talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about public trust and the importance of open information sharing and how ongoing relationship building and past experience help set the stage for protecting people in their communities.

Published March 11, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Terry Allan

Why the director of Hopkins’ Office of Critical Event Preparedness is preparing but not panicking: Dr. Gabor Kelen, Director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what’s contributing to public fears about COVID-19, how the institution assesses what actions to take, and his one piece of advice for people experiencing mild symptoms.

Published March 10, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Lisa Maragakis, MD

COVID-19 presents new challenges for health care providers in the midst of respiratory virus season. Dr. Lisa Maragakis, Senior Director of Infection Prevention at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about standard precautions, protecting hospital staff while ensuring coverage, how previous outbreaks have laid some groundwork to address this one, and what you can do to help.

Published March 9, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Jennifer Nuzzo, MD

Is hand sanitizer effective? Will this spread throughout the US? Should I cancel my upcoming travel plans? Can COVID-19 tests tell the difference between someone who has had the virus and someone who currently has it? Are face masks effective?

Jennifer Nuzzo of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security answers these and some of the most asked questions.

Published March 6, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Andrew Stanley Pekosz, PhD

Tune in for an interview with Professor Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an expert in the basic science of respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS. Dr. Pekosz shares what’s known and what is yet to be discovered about the novel coronavirus.

Published March 5, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Justin Lessler, PhD

Dr. Josh Sharfstein interviews infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Justin Lessler on the features of viruses that lead to worldwide contagion, how COVID-19 compares with the flu in terms of speed, and where the evidence now points for this novel coronavirus.

Dr. Justin Lessler is an Associate Professor in Epidemiology. Dr. Josh Sharfstein is the Vice Dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and former secretary of Maryland’s Department of Health.

Published March 4, 2020

Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD

Guest: Jennifer Nuzzo, MD

Guest: Tara Kirk Sell, PhD, MA

Guest: Lauren M. Sauer, MS

With COVID-19 beginning to spread via community transmission in the U.S. and the WHO raising its risk assessment to “very high,” experts from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offer insights on the growing global public health concern.

Featuring Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo and Dr. Tara Kirk Sell of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and Lauren Sauer of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response; moderated by Dr. Josh Sharfstein, Vice Dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and former secretary of Maryland's Department of Health.

Published March 3, 2020