Public Health Reports to Host "Meet the Author" Web Cast September 10, 2007 – 2:30 p.m. (Eastern)

August 17, 2007 – On Monday, September 10, Public Health Reports (PHR) will sponsor a special Web cast titled on the challenge of pandemic flu to the healthcare system featuring Dr. Peter Levin, former dean of the University at Albany School of Public Health. Dr. Levin will discuss the Viewpoint article that appears in the September/October 2007 issue of PHR titled “Can the Healthcare System Meet the Challenge of Pandemic Flu? Planning, Ethical and Workforce Considerations.” Dr. Levin, who is lead author of the article, will give a brief presentation and then accept questions from participants.

The authors address the critical issue federal, state and local health departments face in preparing for the possible onset of a pandemic flu. The federal pandemic influenza plan predicts that 30 percent of the population could be infected. Dr. Levin addresses the impact a pandemic flu would have on the health-care system, the ethics involved with decision-making and the consideration that should be given in communication to the public, which will play a vital role if planning is to be successful. He stresses the need to think about the effects a pandemic flu will have on society and plan accordingly – before a pandemic hits.

“A large-scale influenza pandemic would pose challenges and issues that, while complex, can nonetheless be prepared for,” conclude the authors. “Identification of these issues is the first step in the process of planning for adequate preparation, which will help assure the health of the public is protected to the fullest extent possible.”

This Web cast is the first of a series of five planned to coincide with the Schools of Public Health 2007-2008 academic calendar. The goals of these Web casts are to give public health students and the public health community at large an opportunity to interact with PHR authors. The Public Health Reports Meet the Author! Web cast series is produced by Public Health Reports and the Association of Schools of Public Health.

The Web cast is open to the general public. Visit http://www.publichealthreports.org on Monday, September 10 at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern) to join. A copy of the article is also available online. This is the third Meet the Author! Web cast. More information about upcoming Web cast dates will be announced shortly. For more information on the Journal, visit http://www.publichealthreports.org and for more information on ASPH, visit http://www.asph.org.