“A Physician-Scientist Reads the Newspapers”

Eight billion people exist in a complex ecosystem. A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a growing Covid pandemic. Governments and international research agencies have actually cooperated extensively. Public Health leaders (e.g., Drs. Fauci & Birx) are advising containment and mitigation. This lecture will focus on biomedical science topics, including how epidemiology is helping, what diagnostic tools exist (even if in low numbers), the immune system “black box,” experimental vaccine approaches, and challenges in antiviral drug research ($). Uncertainty remains, making opportunities for improvement ubiquitous.

The saturation level of “news” by TV, print, radio, & social media, ironically creates a need for more. This lecture aims to provide succinct description and analysis that helps interpret and organize the brouhaha. New topic areas will be added as the pandemic evolves. In-class polling will drive selection of topics for presentation. A set of PowerPoint slides will be distributed 2 days prior to the online lecture.

Dr. David Lehman is a physician-scientist who did his clinical work at Denver Health and the Veteran’s Hospital for 28 years and is on the faculty of the Colorado Medical School. He is Board certified in Internal Medicine and developed expertise in HIV and AIDS early in that “global epidemic.” His international medical experience includes clinical work and teaching in Kenya, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Okinawa, Japan.

Notes

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Recommendations

Recommended Reading:

New York Times: articles and opinion pieces (2020), Camus, the Plague (French: La Peste) 1947, McNeil, Plagues & People (1976)