Most people shudder at the idea of an infectious disease outbreak — patients stricken with a mysterious illness, hospitals overflowing, and cities going into lockdown. But for Syra Madad, DHSc, MSc , MCP, rushing into such a scenario, donned in a hazmat suit, to control the chaos has been a dream since childhood. Today, she is an epidemiologist, biosecurity advisor, and a pathogen preparedness expert who serves as Senior Director of the System-Wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health and Hospitals, which operates the municipal health care system of New York City. 

Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Madad shares what excites her about the work of infectious disease control, why she believes we have emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic worse prepared for the next pandemic, how scientists and doctors can better communicate with the public in the absence of clear data, the importance of utilizing trusted messengers in the community to fully deploy the power of public health, and more. 

In this episode, you’ll hear about: 

2:09 - How a movie led Dr. Madad to become an infectious disease preparedness expert

6:54 - An overview of Biosafety levels (BSL)  

9:30 - Moments in Dr. Madad’s career when disease containment went well and moments when it did not. 

12:27 - How Dr. Madad mentally and emotionally manages the heavy weight of often-lethal infectious diseases

18:05 - Dr. Madad’s opinion on how COVID-19 policies were handled 

24:02 - Dr. Madad’s personal thoughts on the potential origins of COVID-19 

26:55 - What concerns Dr. Madad most about future pandemics and how we can make positive steps toward recovering trust in science

35:40 - Dr. Madad’s advice for those considering a career in public health or infectious diseases 

Dr. Syra Madad appears in the Netflix special Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak.

Dr. Syra Madad can be found on Twitter/X at @syramadad.

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