Infectious IDeas

49 Episodes

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Days, Not Years: Reimagining Vaccine Development with Richard J. Hatchett, MD

2026-09-0224:37

What will it take to better prepare the world for the next pandemic, and why are vaccine equity and disease surveillance critical to that effort? In this episode of the Infectious IDeas podcast, NFID CEO Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MA, MPH, and NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, have a candid conversation with Richard J. Hatchett, MD, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and recipient of the 2026 NFID Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award. He share...

Building a Legacy of Health Equity with Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH

2026-08-0517:59

What does it take to eradicate a disease like polio, and why does vaccine equity matter as much as scientific innovation? In this episode of the Infectious IDeas podcast, NFID CEO Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MA, MPH, and NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, welcome Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, of the Gates Foundation and recipient of the 2026 NFID John P. Utz Leadership Award, for a lively discussion on global immunization policy, disease surveillance, and the effort to eradicate polio...

Listening to Learn with Heidi J. Larson, PhD

2026-07-0118:48

How do we build trust in an era of misinformation, social media, and artificial intelligence? In this episode of Infectious IDeas, NFID CEO Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MA, MPH, and NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, talk with Heidi J. Larson, PhD, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project and professor of anthropology, risk, and decision science at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Drawing on decades of research and experience, Larson explains why vaccine h...

Public Health in a Divided America: A Conversation with Asa Hutchinson

2026-06-0318:22

What happens when public health becomes politicized? In this episode, hosts Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MA, MPH, and Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, are joined by former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson for a wide-ranging conversation on public health leadership, vaccine confidence, and crisis communication. Drawing on his experience in state and federal governments, including leadership roles during COVID-19 and the SARS outbreak, Hutchinson reflects on how emergency preparedness, public trust, and cu...

Science at Risk: The Future of US Biomedical Research with Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH

2026-05-0621:11

Is the US losing its edge in biomedical research—and what does that mean for the future of infectious diseases? In this episode, Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and former leader at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joins hosts Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MA, MPH, and Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, for a timely, thought-provoking discussion on the future of public health and scientific research. From the early days of HIV to today’s com...

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