ASTMH Presidents Send Letter to White House Over COVID-19 Concerns

March 3, 2020  The Honorable Donald J. Trump  President of the United States  The White House   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20050   The Honorable Michael R. Pence   Vice President of the United States  The White House   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President and Mr. Vice President: 

We, the collective leadership and past-Presidents of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), the largest international scientific organization of experts dedicated to reducing the worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and to improving global health, write to you with our urgent concern related to COVID-19. We have a unique understanding of disease outbreaks as well as the health and economic consequences they pose for the United States and the world.   

Our nation has extraordinary assets to address COVID-19 through the highly experienced and specialized federal expertise at HHS, CDC, NIH and the FDA. They are best positioned to lead informed, evidence-based decisions that ultimately will benefit families at home and abroad, and ensure that facts lead our response to support the health and welfare of our country and our people.  

In addition to U.S. scientists, your Administration has an open door to tap our society of global experts who recognize ASTMH as their professional home. In some cases our members are NIH and CDC scientists, others are in the Department of Defense working to protect the health of our troops, and others are in the private sector, in academia and with foundations.   

As our national strategy (local, state, national and global) evolves to incorporate new, reliable information, we must remember that national and global collaboration, political will at home, fact-based, consistent messaging and full funding are also essential to getting the job done. 

Our U.S. scientific leadership is our best bet to manage this outbreak. They are highly qualified, experienced, trusted and committed to serving the best interests of our nation and the world. 

At ASTMH, we stand ready to offer our expertise. We look forward to working with the White House COVID-19 Task Force to address this outbreak, which is already revealing its potential for human tragedy and significant market consequences.    

Sincerely,

 

Joel G. Breman, MD, DTPH, FASTMH President  Julie Jacobson, MD  President-Elect Chandy C. John, MD, MS, FASTMH Immediate Past President   N. Regina Rabinovich, MD, FASTMH President 2018 Patricia F. Walker, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH President 2017   Stephen Higgs, PhD, FRES, FASTMH President 2016   Christopher V. Plowe, MD, MPH, FASTMH President 2015  David H. Walker, MD, FASTMH President 2013  James W. Kazura, MD, FASTMH President 2012  Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, FASTMH President 2011  Edward T. Ryan, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH President 2010  Claire B. Panosian (Dunavan), MD, DTM&H, FASTMH  President 2008  Carlos (Kent) C. Campbell, MD, MPH, FASTMH  President 2007  Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, FASTMH President 2006  Thomas P. Monath, MD, FASTMH President 2005

Peter F. Weller, MD, FASTMH  President 2004  William A. Petri, Jr., MD, PhD, FASTMH President 2003  Michele Barry, MD, FACP, FASTMH President 2002  Stephen L. Hoffman, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH President 2001  Duane J. Gubler, ScD, FASTMH  President 2000  Dyann F. Wirth, PhD, FASTMH  President 1999  Stephanie James, PhD, FASTMH President 1998  Richard L. Guerrant, MD, FASTMH President 1997  Donald S. Burke, MD, FASTMH President 1996  Carole A. Long, PhD, FASTMH  President 1995  Barnett L. Cline, MD, PhD, MPH, FASTMH President 1994  Daniel G. Colley, PhD, FASTMH President 1993  Louis H. Miller, MD, FASTMH  President 1989  Joseph A. Cook, MD, FASTMH  President 1987  Philip K. Russell, MD, FASTMH President 1983