Rochelle Walensky

Rochelle Walensky, a physician-scientist and former CDC director, teams up with economist Karen Clay to discuss the U.S. physician shortage. They reveal historical reforms that increased the gap, focusing on the legacy of the Flexner Report and its implications. Walensky highlights the burden of medical school applications and geographic distribution challenges, while Clay questions whether a bad doctor is worse than none at all. They also explore burnout among physicians and the need for better public health strategies to ease demand.

As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches its fourth year, we can begin to gain some clarity on which countries, and which U.S. states, had the best outcomes over time. In a conversation with David Remnick, Dhruv Khullar, a contributing writer and a practicing physician in New York, explains some of the key factors. Robust testing was key for public-health authorities to make good decisions, unsurprisingly. What also seems clear from a distance, Khullar says, is that social cohesion was a decisive underlying condition. This helps explain why the United States did poorly in its pandemic response, despite a technologically advanced health-care system. Peer pressure, in other words, trumped mandates. Khullar also speaks to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about how misinformation and political polarization inhibit our country’s efforts on public health.

Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, sheds light on the U.S. response to rising monkeypox cases. She discusses the urgent need for increased testing and vaccine distribution, drawing parallels with early COVID-19 challenges. Walensky emphasizes education and equitable access, especially for at-risk communities such as the LGBTQ population. She also addresses the stigma surrounding the disease and the collaborative efforts with community organizations to improve vaccine rollout amidst systemic hurdles.