In our globalized world, everyone is at risk during an infectious disease outbreak. Infectious diseases remain the second leading cause of death worldwide. But the distribution of illness is unequal, with individuals in low-income countries being 2.5x more likely to die from infectious diseases than those in high-income countries. The fight for an equitable and healthy future depends on our ability to combat infectious diseases through scientific discovery, innovative interventions, and reliable policymaking.

The University of Michigan School of Public Health is proud to present "Disrupting Infectious Diseases: Fighting for Our Future," a half-day event exploring the past, present, and future of preparing, combatting, and healing from infectious diseases as a community.

The keynote will be delivered by Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator.

Dr. Emily Martin will host an expert panel that features Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, SPH alumnus and current Chief Medical Executive in the State of Michigan, Dr. Juan Luis S. Marquez, Medical Director, Livingston and Washtenaw County Health Departments, and Rev. Horace Sheffield III, CEO of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations.

This event is part of The Exchange: Critical Conversations with Michigan Public Health, an academic speaker series.