Michael Osterholm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Osterholm
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Osterholm in 2021
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| Born | March 10, 1953 Waukon, Iowa, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Luther College (BA) University of Minnesota (MS, MPH, PhD) |
| Occupation | Epidemiologist |
| Years active | 1975–present |
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Notable work
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Deadliest Enemy (2017) |
| Board member of | COVID-19 Advisory Board |
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Michael Thomas Osterholm (born March 10, 1953) is an American epidemiologist. An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies how diseases spread and how to control them. He is a professor at the University of Minnesota and leads a center there called the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. This center focuses on studying and preventing infectious diseases. In November 2020, he joined President Joe Biden's team of experts to advise on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Osterholm was born in Waukon, Iowa. His father was a newspaper photographer.
He finished college at Luther College in 1975. He earned a B.A. in biology and political science. Later, he studied at the University of Minnesota. There, he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in environmental health. He also received his M.P.H. in epidemiology.
Career in Public Health
From 1975 to 1999, Osterholm worked for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). He served as the state's top epidemiologist from 1984 to 1999. At the MDH, he helped improve how the department handled infectious diseases.
He worked on many important health issues. These included outbreaks of foodborne diseases. He also studied the link between tampons and toxic shock syndrome. His work helped understand how diseases like hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spread among healthcare workers. He also studied diseases in child-care settings and those that can be prevented by vaccines.
From 2001 to 2005, Osterholm was a special advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He advised on topics like bioterrorism and preparing for public health emergencies. Bioterrorism is when harmful germs are used as weapons. In 2002, he helped lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a short time. The CDC is a major U.S. agency that protects public health.
Osterholm often gives talks about how infectious diseases spread. He helps review articles for many science journals. These include the New England Journal of Medicine and Science. He has also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic on popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience and Meet the Press.
He led a research center focused on influenza (flu) from 2007 to 2014. He has also been president of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. He has advised groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since March 2020, he has hosted a weekly podcast called "The Osterholm Update: COVID-19." In this podcast, he shares the latest information on the pandemic.
Biosecurity Work
Osterholm has spoken out about the world's need to be ready for a flu pandemic. A pandemic is a disease outbreak that spreads across many countries. He has also been a leader in fighting against the use of biological agents as weapons. Biological agents are things like bacteria or viruses that can cause disease. He even advised King Hussein of Jordan on this topic. His center, CIDRAP, has worked with the Department of Homeland Security since 2003 on a program called BioWatch. This program helps detect harmful biological agents.
Books and Publications
In March 2017, Osterholm and Mark Olshaker published a book called Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs. The book talks about the danger of new diseases. Richard Preston, who wrote The Hot Zone, said the book offers "not just fear but plans" for dealing with these threats.
Osterholm has also written articles for important journals like Foreign Affairs and Nature. These articles discussed the threat of a flu pandemic even before the 2009–10 flu outbreak. He has also written for The New York Times. His articles there often discuss how cuts in research funding can affect our ability to fight new diseases.
He has written over 315 papers and articles, including 21 book chapters.
Honors and Awards
Michael Osterholm has received special honors from several universities. These include Luther College and Des Moines University. He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
He has received many awards for his work. These include the Charles C. Shepard Science Award from the CDC and the Harvey W. Wiley Medal from the Food and Drug Administration. He has also received several research awards from the National Institutes of Health and the CDC.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Osterholm para niños
