Speaker Laurie Garrett to discuss public health, infectious disease

March 6, 2015  


Laurie Garrett

Laurie Garrett 
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Laurie Garrett, an expert in global public health and infectious diseases, will speak at Purdue University on March 31 about public health. Her talk will include recent outbreaks such as Ebola and measles, and the topic of vaccination.

"Epidemics R' Us: Three Decades Inside Outbreaks" will begin at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse and is the keynote address of Life Inspired, the annual showcase for the College of Health and Human Sciences. The event is free and open to the public, and a public reception will follow the event.

Garrett has been awarded each of the three Ps of journalism - the Pulitzer, the Polk (two times) and the Peabody - for her work explaining the science behind global health threats and the ways that politics help, or hinder, preparation and response to these threats. Her works include "The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World out of Balance," "Betrayal of Trust: the Collapse of Global Public Health" and "I Heard the Sirens Scream: How Americans Responded to the 9/11 and Anthrax Attacks."

Recipient of several honorary doctorates, including the most recent from Georgetown University, Garrett is a former president and current member of the National Association of Science Writers. She was a script consultant to "Contagion," the film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Matt Damon, and has appeared on several television shows including "Nightline," "Charlie Rose" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

"Laurie Garrett's reflections on global health, health systems, and infectious diseases will be relevant and valuable to members of all disciplines at Purdue and the community," said Chris Ladisch, dean of Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences. "We look forward to her presentation during Life Inspired."

Life Inspired is the annual showcase of events for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College of Health and Human Sciences. It seeks to demonstrate how education, creativity, dedication and passion work to improve quality of life, Ladisch said.

The college is home to the schools of Health Sciences; Hospitality and Tourism Management; and Nursing; and the departments of Consumer Science; Health and Kinesiology; Human Development and Family Studies; Nutrition Science; Psychological Sciences; and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. 

Writer: Rachel Semple, rsemple@purdue.edu 

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu 

Sources: Chris Ladisch, ladischc@purdue.edu

Casey Dexter, director of donor relations and events for the College of Health and Human Sciences, 765-494-0355, ccdexter@prf.org 

Note to Journalists: Journalists attending the talk will only be able to photograph or record the first 10 minutes of Garrett's presentation.  

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