Former White House Coronavirus Coordinator to discuss whether the nation is ready for future pandemics
Alexandria, VA, February 23, 2021 - Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D. will be a featured speaker at the Health Industry Distributors Association’s upcoming Executive Conference, the association has announced.
In a keynote session entitled Is the Next Pandemic Around The Corner – And Are We Ready? Dr. Birx will share insights from the COVID-19 pandemic and how these lessons are being applied to monitor for and respond to the next threat. Joining her in the conversation will be Nahid Bhadelia, M.D., medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center.
Ambassador Birx most recently was the White House Coronavirus Coordinator. A renowned medical expert in the field of immunology and infectious diseases, she has also served as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, and Director of the Division of Global HIV/AIDS at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her four-decade career has focused on immunology, vaccine research, and global health.
Dr. Bhadelia is an infectious disease specialist who teaches at the Boston University School of Medicine. On February 9, 2020, she published an op-ed in The Atlantic warning about the burden of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems based on her experiences as a physician on the frontlines of past epidemics.
“These experts’ insights are vital in helping our members prepare for the ‘next normal’ for the healthcare supply chain,” said HIDA Senior Vice President Elizabeth Hilla. The Executive Conference takes place March 29-31 and is virtual. Details and registration information can be found here.
About HIDA
The Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA) represents the country’s medical product distributors – the nation’s essential link between manufacturers and patient caregivers. HIDA members offer critical services increasing the efficiency of U.S. healthcare providers, including hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, home care, and physician practices. For more information, visit HIDA.org.
Press contact: Sharon Cohen, cohen@hida.org.