Student Perspectives

I learned a great deal both about how the government responded to H1N1, but also about how the government works to respond to threats. I was continually startled by how many agencies and departments were involved in threat response, and how many individuals were attacking them from different aspects. We spoke to three people from DHS alone that are responsible for various aspects of foreign health management. From reading the response plan and numerous interviews, it became clear that there are probably hundreds of people on hand who are responsible for separate pieces of threat preparedness and response. -- Eli Wade-Scott '10

This project was extremely beneficial to my future by allowing me to explore my profound interests in both medicine and public policy. This opportunity was the first time that I had been introduced to any careers which directly combined both of my interests. I felt that this opportunity was incredibly specific to my long term interests and found it to be incredibly rewarding as I was able to discover careers that were exactly my passions and were incredibly appealing to me. In addition, I was able to learn how each of these policy makers were able to arrive at their current positions through their vast experiences in medicine and politics. -- Mikelle Wortman '10

I was most enthusiastic to learn and embrace the experience of exploring the relationship between the scientists and policy decision-makers. I also gained many insights in the field of public health through open dialogue between the students and the policy-makers surrounding influenza pandemic in Washington D.C. My academic plans after my studies at Cornell College are to pursue graduate studies in pharmacology and work in a research and development environment as a scientist. To be an outstanding scientist, I believe that I must have competence in both the sciences and the policies, for which this project helped me acquire. -- Aye Mon '11

H1N1RiskandResponse

President Garner, Professor Christie-Pope and students  

Outside the White House 

President Garner and students  

 

Professor Christie-Pope points out science all around  

 

 

 

Waiting for the Metro  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H1N1: Risk and Response

As the 2008-2009 academic year was drawing to a close and the entire globe was putting up defenses against a microscopic threat, H1N1, former Cornell President Les Garner saw an extraordinary opportunity. He proposed a course for February, 2010, entitled H1N1: Risk and Response, to investigate the public health response to the H1N1 pandemic. He was joined by Professor Barbara Christie-Pope from the Biology Department and four selected students: Aye Mon '11, Yuri Mitchell '10, Eli Wade-Scott '10, and Mikelle Wortman '10.

The course was divided into two parts; the first was an adjunct course which met during the fall of 2009. During the adjunct course, Professor Christie-Pope and the students reviewed scientific literature, popular media, and governmental guidelines. They met weekly to discuss and evaluate the way information was disseminated to the public and to lay the groundwork for their investigation into the response of the United States Government.

The second part of the course was structured around a trip to Washington, D.C. where President Garner, Professor Christie-Pope, and the students interviewed government officials about how the U.S. response was organized and what protocols were used. They asked officials to evaluate the effectiveness of the response, learning much about many topics, from the massive structure required to keep a large population healthy to the way the U.S. procures immunizations.

Students were able to meet with the following officials:

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Bruce Gellin, MD, MPH
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Director
National Vaccine Program Office

Julie Schafer, MPH, MS
Influenza and Emerging Diseases Science Branch Chief
Policy, Planning and Requirements Division
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

Casey Wright, M.Sc.
Analyst Office of Policy and Strategic Planning
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

From the National Association of Chain Drug Stores:

Steve Anderson '75
President/CEO

Edith Rosata, R.Ph. CAE
Senior VP of Pharmacy Affairs

Other officials:

Dr. Harvey Fineberg
President Institute of Medicine of the National Academies

Dr. Richard Hatchett
Director for Medical Preparedness Policy
National Security Council
The White House

Click on the student's name to read the policy papers created by Eli Wade-Scott and Yuri Mitchell.

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