JAMA Author Interviews

Increasing the number of physicians who are Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous benefits everyone in the US, but it cannot be the sole responsibility of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, president and dean of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), and Clyde W. Yancy, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, join JAMA Editor in Chief Howard Bauchner, MD, to discuss options for developing training pipelines of underrepresented minority health science students, and how academic medicine can make racial justice a part of its work and mission. Recorded January 5, 2021. Related Article: Academic Medicine and Black Lives Matter

The National Academy of Medicine's 2000 report "To Err Is Human" launched the health care quality movement in the US. Victor Dzau, MD, president of the National Academy of Medicine, and Don Berwick, MD, MPP, from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, discuss progress to date in advancing quality and prospects for improving outcomes and reducing harms, errors, and cost in the next 20 years. Recorded December 22, 2020. Related Article(s): Two Decades Since To Err Is Human

Interview with Geoffrey S. Ginsburg, MD, PhD, author of Digital Health—The Need to Assess Benefits, Risks, and Value

With coronavirus vaccines now available, what are the timeline and prospects for "herd immunity" and return to a new normal? Marc Lipsitch, DPhil, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health returns to JAMA's Q&A series with Paul D. Biddinger, MD, director of Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Disaster Medicine, to discuss. Recorded December 17, 2020. Related Article(s): COVID-19 Vaccines and Herd Immunity The Ethics of Continuing Placebo in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Trials Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines After Emergency Use Authorization or Licensing of Initial Candidate Vaccines Herd Immunity and Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Control Herd Immunity as a Coronavirus Pandemic Strategy

Peter W. Marks, MD, PhD, and Stephen M. Hahn, MD, return to JAMA's Q&A series to discuss the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines: the data, the weekend's EUA designation (Pfizer/BioNTech), and the process for future full licensure and postmarketing safety surveillance. Dr Marks directs the US FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Dr Hahn is commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. Recorded December 14, 2020. Related Article(s): Behaviorally Informed Strategies for a National COVID-19 Vaccine Promotion Program

Interview with David W. Baker, MD, MPH, author of Trust in Health Care in the Time of COVID-19

Interview with Chyke A. Doubeni, MD, MPH, USPSTF member and coauthor of USPSTF Recommendation: Screening for Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Adolescents and Adults

Anthony S. Fauci, MD, returns to JAMA's Q&A series to discuss the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines: the public data, deliberations at Thursday's FDA Advisory Committee meeting, and prospects for an agency Emergency Use Authorization designation, licensure, and rollout. Recorded December 11, 2020. Related Article(s): Coronavirus Infections—More Than Just the Common Cold

The COVID Tracking Project, launched by The Atlantic, collects and publishes data required to understand the COVID-19 outbreak in the US, including data on race and ethnicity needed to understand health inequities in the outbreak. Atlantic Monthly journalists Alexis C. Madrigal and Erin Kissane join JAMA's Q&A series to describe the project and their experience developing a database for fact-based health reporting on the pandemic. Recorded December 10, 2020.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the NIH has updated its guideline recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of asthma patients. Michelle M. Cloutier, MD, from UConn Health, Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD, of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and JAMA Associate Editor George O'Connor, MD, MS, from Boston Medical Center join JAMA's Q&A series to discuss what's new, including revised advice about • Use of intermittent inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) • Use of add-on long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) • Use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement as a diagnostic biomarker • Monitoring response to therapy • Indoor allergen mitigation strategies • Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy • Use of bronchial thermoplasty Recorded December 8, 2020 Related Article(s): Managing Asthma in Adolescents and Adults

With the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines reportedly under review at the US FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), Paul A. Offit, MD, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, returns to JAMA's Q&A series to provide an update on what to expect, prospects for vaccine rollout and distribution in the coming months, and ongoing safety surveillance. Recorded December 2, 2020. Related Article: Developing a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at Warp Speed

Interview with Lawrence O. Gostin, JD, author of Health Policy in the Supreme Court and a New Conservative Majority

Yale Sterling Professor Nicholas A. Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, returns to JAMA's Q&A series to discuss the surge in US cases and other recent pandemic developments. Dr Christakis is author of the recently published book "Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live." Recorded November 23, 2020.

Interview with Martha Y. Kubik, PhD, RN, USPSTF member and coauthor of Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults With Cardiovascular Risk Factors

In the midst of rising COVID-19 case rates globally, Derek C. Angus, MD, MPH, and Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, return to JAMA's Q&A series to update viewers on developments in the pandemic and the critical care management of COVID-19 patients. Dr Angus is Chief Health Care Innovation Officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, professor and chair of Critical Care Medicine, and a senior JAMA editor. Dr Walensky is Chief of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School. Recorded November 19, 2020. Related Article(s): Optimizing the Trade-off Between Learning and Doing in a Pandemic

Interview with Ipsit V. Vahia, MD, author of Older Adults and the Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 Related Article(s): Older Adults and the Mental Health Effects of COVID-19

Interview with Eli Y. Adashi, MD, MS, author of Heritable Human Genome Editing: The International Commission Report

Would letting coronavirus infect the broad US and global population be a safe and effective means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic? Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, of Stanford University's Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research is a signatory of the "Great Barrington Declaration," which proposes to "allow those at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk." Marc Lipsitch, PhD, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a signatory of the "John Snow Memorandum," which refutes the argument, responds. Related Article: Herd Immunity and Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Control

Ngozi O. Ezike, MD, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, discusses state and regional management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded November 9, 2020. Related Article(s): Universal Masking in the United States

Interview with Michael Silverstein, MD, USPSTF member and coauthor of Screening for Hypertension in Children and Adolescents

Interview with Carlos del Rio, MD, author of Long-term Health Consequences of COVID-19 Related Article: Long-term Health Consequences of COVID-19

Anthony S. Fauci, MD, returns to JAMA's Q&A series to discuss the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, including the continued importance of nonpharmaceutical interventions (masking, handwashing, physical distancing) for managing rising case numbers in the US and globally. Recorded October 28, 2020. Related Article(s): Preventing the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 With Masks and Other "Low-tech" Interventions

Paul A. Offit, MD, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, returns to JAMA's Q&A series to provide an update on progress in COVID-19 vaccine development. Recorded October 27, 2020. Related Article(s): Developing a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at Warp Speed

Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital returns to JAMA's COVID-19 Q&A to provide an update on developments in the pandemic. She is a signatory of the recent John Snow Memorandum emphasizing the importance of public health interventions to manage the spread of COVID-19. Recorded October 22, 2020. Related Article(s): Preventing the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 With Masks and Other "Low-tech" Interventions

Interview with Kathryn A. Phillips, PhD, author of Expanding Use of Clinical Genome Sequencing and the Need for More Data on Implementation Related content: Functional Neurological Disorder Society

The costs of the coronavirus pandemic are unprecedented in their dimensions: David M. Cutler, PhD, of Harvard University discusses financial costs: the $16 trillion virus. Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins University discusses the costs to communities of color in excess deaths and bereavement. Charles R. Marmar, MD, of NYU Grossman School of Medicine discusses the mental health costs. Recorded October 20, 2020. Related Article(s): The COVID-19 Pandemic and the $16 Trillion Virus

Andy Slavitt, MBA, discusses recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and the US response. Slavitt is former Acting CMS Administrator in the Obama administration, board director at the United States of Care in Washington, DC, and a Distinguished Health Policy Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Recorded October 16, 2020. Related Article: The COVID-19 Pandemic Underscores the Need to Address Structural Challenges of the US Health Care System

The National Academy of Medicine has recommended that racial minority populations receive priority for vaccination because they have been hard hit by the pandemic and are "worse off" socioeconomically. US law is inconsistent on whether race/ethnicity can be an explicit criterion for achieving equity and diversity. Lawrence O. Gostin, JD, of Georgetown University and Michelle A. Williams, ScD, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discuss ways to achieve the public health objective of protecting vulnerable communities while adhering to law and ethics. Recorded October 14, 2020. Related Article(s): Is It Lawful and Ethical to Prioritize Racial Minorities for COVID-19 Vaccines?

Interview with Christopher W. Seymour, MD, MSc, author of Sensible Medicine—Balancing Intervention and Inaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The US Surgeon General's office has released a report emphasizing the importance of making hypertension control a national public health priority. Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, the 20th US Surgeon General, discusses the report's background and recommendations. Recorded October 7, 2020. Related Article(s): A National Commitment to Improve the Care of Patients With Hypertension in the US

On October 2 the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine issued its consensus Framework for Equitable Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine. William H. Foege, MD, MPH, emeritus distinguished professor of International Health at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, cochaired the committee that authored the report and discusses its recommendations. Recorded October 2, 2020. Related Article: Fairly Prioritizing Groups for Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

Peter Marks, MD, PhD, directs the US FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and will "call the balls and strikes" on any COVID-19 vaccine, according to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn. He joins JAMA Editor Howard Bauchner, MD, for an update on vaccine progress to date and prospects for pre-election political interference in the FDA approval process. Recorded October 5, 2020. Related Article(s): Unwavering Regulatory Safeguards for COVID-19 Vaccines

Interview with William H. Shrank, MD, author of De-adopting Low-Value Care: Evidence, Eminence, and Economics Related Article(s): De-adopting Low-Value Care

Anthony S. Fauci, MD, returns to JAMA's Q&A series to discuss the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded September 25, 2020. Related Article(s): Reassuring the Public and Clinical Community About the Scientific Review and Approval of a COVID-19 Vaccine

Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, returns to JAMA's Coronavirus Q&A series to discuss the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. He is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at University of Minnesota and a veteran of pandemic planning. Recorded September 23, 2020. Related Article(s): Fairly Prioritizing Groups for Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

Hydroxychloroquine and convalescent plasma approvals by the FDA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) protocols have raised concerns the agency is under withering political pressure to fast-track a COVID-19 vaccine before it is proven safe and effective. Joshua Sharfstein, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and JAMA Associate Editor Preeti Malani, MD, University of Michigan, discuss implications for public health and policy responses to ensure vaccine safety. Recorded September 18, 2020. Related Article: Reassuring the Public and Clinical Community About the Scientific Review and Approval of a COVID-19 Vaccine

Interview with Aaron S. Kesselheim, MD, author of Regulatory Decision-making on COVID-19 Vaccines During a Public Health Emergency Related Article(s): Regulatory Decision-making on COVID-19 Vaccines During a Public Health Emergency

New data show unfavorable US trends in hypertension and obesity, with communities of color doing worse. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Director Griffin P. Rodgers, MD, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Director Gary H. Gibbons, MD, discuss the implications for COVID-19 outcomes and public health. Recorded September 10, 2020. Related Article(s): Trends in Blood Pressure Control Among US Adults With Hypertension, 1999-2000 to 2017-2018

Interview with Atul J Butte, MD, PhD, author of The Case for Algorithmic Stewardship for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies Related Article: The Case for Algorithmic Stewardship for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies

Interview with Deborah Korenstein, MD, and Daniel J. Morgan, MD, author of Improving Physician Communication About Treatment Decisions: Reconsideration of "Risks vs Benefits" Related Article(s): Improving Physician Communication About Treatment Decisions

A conversation with Jonathan A. C. Sterne, MA, MSc, PhD, of the University of Bristol, Todd W. Rice, MD, MSc, of Vanderbilt University, and Janet V. Diaz, MD, of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the latest research supporting the use of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone for treatment of COVID-19 ARDS. Recorded September 2, 2020. Related Article(s): Effect of Hydrocortisone on 21-Day Mortality or Respiratory Support Among Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19

Interview with Catherine Lucey, MD, FACP, author of The Transformational Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Education

Paul A. Offit, MD, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia provides an update on COVID-19 vaccine development. Recorded August 24, 2020. Related Article: Developing a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at Warp Speed

CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, discusses recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and US response, including prospects for dual outbreaks of COVID-19 and influenza in the fall and winter. Related Article(s): Addressing Influenza Vaccination Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, discusses recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded August 19, 2020. Related Article(s): The Ethics of COVID-19 Immunity-Based Licenses ("Immunity Passports")

Interview with Melissa A Simon, MD, USPSTF member and coauthor of Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement Related Article(s): Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections

Interview with Matcheri S. Keshavan, MD, author of The Convergence of Neurology and Psychiatry: The Importance of Cross-Disciplinary Education

Soumya Swaminathan, MD, DNB, chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), discusses the global coronavirus pandemic and the WHO response. Recorded August 5, 2020. Related Article: COVID-19 Reveals Urgent Need to Strengthen the World Health Organization

Anthony Fauci, MD, White House Coronavirus Task Force member and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, discusses latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded August 3, 2020. Related Article(s): Anthony Fauci, MD, on COVID-19 Vaccines, Larry Kramer, and Dealing With Criticism

The World Brain Death Project was undertaken to establish minimum standards for diagnosing brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) in children and adults across a broad range of settings and clinical circumstances. In this Q&A, senior authors of the 2020 report join an editorialist and bioethicist to discuss the project. Featuring interviews with Gene Sung, MD, of the University of Southern California; Ariane Lewis, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center; Robert Tasker, MD, of the University of Cambridge; and Robert D. Truog, MD, of Harvard University. Related Article(s): Brain Death—Moving Beyond Consistency in the Diagnostic Criteria