Howard Markel
Director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan, specializing in the history of quarantine and epidemics.
Best podcasts with Howard Markel
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Oct 14, 2025 • 41min
The Plague of San Francisco | From Plague to COVID: What We Still Haven’t Learned | 5
Dr. Howard Markel, a physician and medical historian, discusses the haunting legacy of the 1900 San Francisco plague and its connections to today's public health crisis. He emphasizes the importance of trust, early action, and transparency in combating epidemics. Markel explores how leaders often hide outbreaks for political and economic reasons and warns against scapegoating in times of crisis. He advocates for improved public health communication and highlights heroes like Anthony Fauci, stressing the need for continued investment in public health systems to prepare for future pandemics.
May 4, 2020 • 13min
Letters From The 1918 Pandemic
Howard Markell, a historian and director at the University of Michigan's Center for the History of Medicine, delves into the 1918 flu pandemic's devastating impact. He explores historical letters that reveal a limited understanding of infectious diseases at the time. Markell draws parallels between past and present, particularly in how social distancing and quarantine measures were crucial in both eras. The discussion emphasizes the importance of timely responses in epidemic management, offering a hopeful outlook on resilience and recovery.
