Transmission Interrupted NETEC

Pathogens in Pop Culture: Pandemic and Play - A Board Game Journey with Matt LeacockJoin NETEC hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo for this special episode of Transmission Interrupted as the Pathogens in Pop Culture series continues. In this episode, Lauren and Rachel delve into the world of tabletop gaming with special guest Matt Leacock, renowned board game designer and creator of the widely popular cooperative game Pandemic. Together, they explore Matt’s experience creating the game and discuss how real-life pandemics and issues like global warming influence the design and creation of his tabletop games. From the positive reception of the game within the infectious disease and pandemic response communities to Matt’s upcoming climate change-focused game, Daybreak, this episode promises to be a captivating exploration of the intersection between gaming, education, and public health, offering a unique perspective on these critically important topics. So grab your headphones and join us for another intriguing episode of Transmission Interrupted.
Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.
Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.
GuestsMatt LeacockMatt Leacock has been designing board games since he was very young and full time since 2014. He is best known as a designer of cooperative games, including Pandemic, Daybreak, and Forbidden Island. Pandemic, first published in 2008, has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and is available in over 30 languages. His latest game, Daybreak, challenges players to stop climate change. He lives in Sunnyvale, California. For information about Matt and his creations, visit Matt Leacock Games at www.leacock.com
HostLauren Sauer, MScLauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the director of the Special Pathogens Research Network.
She previously served as Director of Operations for the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness where she ran the inpatient COVID-19 biobank and served on the COVID-19 research steering committee for JHU. Lauren’s research focuses on human subjects research in bio-emergencies and disasters, in particular, ethical implementation of research and navigating the regulatory environment. The goal of her research is to provide health care facilities with the tools needed to conduct a clinical and operational research response in emergencies.
Rachel Lookadoo, JDRachel Lookadoo is an Assistant Professor in the Epidemiology department of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and serves as the Deputy Director of the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness, and Emerging Infectious Diseases. She also acts as the Director of Public Health Policy for the Water, Climate, and Health program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Ms. Lookadoo’s background is as an attorney, and she focuses on the various legal and regulatory issues that can arise in emergency preparedness and response. She specializes in public health impacts of climate change, healthcare surge events, isolation/quarantine law, crisis standards of care, infectious disease response, and general legal preparedness. Ms. Lookadoo also conducts emergency preparedness trainings and assessments for public health departments and healthcare facilities nationally. Ms. Lookadoo received her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law,

In this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we continue our Pathogens in Pop Culture series with an intriguing dive into the world of special pathogens in literature. Dr. Caitlin Rivers, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins us to examine the science behind the use of special pathogens in popular literature. We'll also examine the importance of adhering to reality or fictionalization when writing about pathogens and the power of storytelling in promoting public health practices.
GuestCaitlin Rivers, PhD, MPHDr. Rivers is a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is an epidemiologist specializing in preparedness and response for epidemics, pandemics, and deliberately occurring events. Dr. Rivers recently returned from an appointment as founding associate director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Rivers has testified in front of the United States Congress on several occasions and is a frequent advisor to senior leaders at the state and federal levels. She served on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team working on COVID-19 policies. Her writing has been published in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Rivers participated as author or contributor in influential reports that are guiding the US pandemic response, including National Coronavirus Response: A Roadmap to Reopening and Public Health Principles for a Phased Reopening During COVID-19: Guidance for Governors, the latter of which was used by the National Governors Association, the state of Maryland, and Washington, DC, to guide reopening plans.
Prior to joining the Center in 2017, Dr. Rivers worked as an epidemiologist for the US Army Public Health Center as a Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholar. She also participated in a National Science and Technology Council Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology working group. Dr. Rivers serves as an Associate Editor of the journal Health Security.
Dr. Rivers has been awarded the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Faculty Award for Excellence in US Public Health Practice; the Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service; and a Department of Defense Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Research Transformation Scholarship. In 2015, she earned a PhD in genetics, bioinformatics, and computational biology from Virginia Tech. Her doctoral research focused on computational epidemiology, specifically modeling emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza A (H7N9), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Ebola virus disease for public health support using nontraditional, publicly available sources of data. Dr. Rivers received an MPH with a concentration in infectious disease from Virginia Tech in 2013 and a BA in anthropology from the University of New Hampshire in 2011.
HostsLauren Sauer, MScLauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins...

Warp Speed Research: Experiences during COVID and Mpox Responses On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we welcome members of NETEC’s Special Pathogen Research Network to discuss their experiences as research personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mpox outbreak. Join us as the team explores the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned from implementing research protocols at warp speed in time-sensitive and high-pressure environments.
Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.
Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.
GuestsChrista Arguinchona, MSN, BSN, CCRNManager, Special Pathogens
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital
Christa is the Manager for the Special Pathogens Program at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital (PSHMC&CH). Her responsibilities include developing and maintaining a care team for the Special Pathogens Unit and developing policies, protocols, and educational and training plans. Christa manages the Special Pathogens Program that facilitates readiness throughout HHS Region 10 for emerging special pathogens. Christa collaborates with community, regional and national partners on all aspects of what it means to be a Regional Treatment Center for Emerging Special Pathogens.
Christa has her Master’s Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is certified in Critical Care. She has over 30 years of critical care experience in the neurological/trauma ICU at PSHMC&CH. 
Barry Clark, MS, BSN, ASN, RNResearch Educator, General Clinical Research, Serious Communicable Disease Unit.
Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia
Barry is the Research Educator for the Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRC) at Emory University Hospital. His responsibility includes functioning as a liaison and educator for research teams that use the GCRC clinic and the inpatient nursing units where clinical trials are conducted. Barry's primary function is working with principal investigators and research coordinators, guiding them through the process of carrying out research studies. Barry also functions as a support nurse to the Serious Communicable Disease Unit and works as an instructor for the research-based phlebotomy program.
Barry has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. He has been a registered nurse at Emory University Hospital for 27 years and has worked in the role of staff nurse, nurse educator, transplant nurse, research nurse, research coordinator for the liver transplant program, clinic manager, and unit charge nurse. 
Jade Flinn, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN  Program/Unit Director Biocontainment Unit  
Department of Medicine 
The Johns Hopkins Hospital 
Jade Flinn graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in 2011 and Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2019. She is trained as a neurocritical care nurse, critical care transport nurse, and nurse education leader. Her role as the BCU unit director is to maintain the unit’s overall activation readiness including physical infrastructure, rostered personnel training, and systemic preparedness for capacity to safely care for patients infected with high consequence pathogens. Flinn also serves as a bedside clinical nurse in the Johns Hopkins intensive care units and during inter-hospital ground transports. Her professional interests revolve around representation of nursing in disaster preparedness and response, health care worker safety, and hospital emergency operations. Her most current work involves an international, multicenter COVID-19 clinical trial (Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial),...

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, we delve into the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and its importance in responding to special pathogens and other emergencies. Join host Jill Morgan and special guests Kyesha Turner from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Darrell Ruby from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington, and Ryan Tuckmeyer from Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, as they share their experiences and insights on how HICS ensures readiness, coordination, and effective response in the face of various scenarios.
The discussion will also touch on the importance of building foundations and solid structures for emergency management and provide information on available HICS resources and tools, including a new online HICS training course now available at NETEC. Join us on this informative episode of Transmission Interrupted as we uncover the intricacies of HICS for Special Pathogens Preparedness and explore the dynamic world of incident management in health care today.
GuestsDarrell Ruby, CEM®, NEMAA Special Pathogen Program/Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) 
Providence Inland Northwest Washington  
Darrell Ruby is the Regional Coordinator for the HHS Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), 1 of 13 in the nation at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital. Darrell has worked as an Emergency Manager for nearly 20 years at the local, regional, and state level when he was with Spokane Emergency Management and for the last 8 years at Providence. As an Emergency Manager for Providence Inland Northwest Washington, he was responsible for the Emergency Management Program for the five (5) Providence hospitals in Spokane and Stevens County that represent just over 1,000 licensed beds: a level 2 and 3 trauma centers for adults and pediatrics, two 25-bed Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), a specialty rehab facility, and stand-alone Ambulatory Surgery Center. He started working for Providence in September 2015. Prior to work at Providence, Darrell worked for the Spokane Department of Emergency Management for 11 years, as the Regional Coordinator for Washington State Homeland Security (HLS) Region 9 (6 years) and as a Program Coordinator (5 years). Region 9 is comprised of the 10 counties and three tribes of Eastern Washington. In that role, he supported regional collaboration, coordination, and an interagency approach to all-hazard emergency preparedness. He has worked in all phases of emergency management, supporting planning, training, and exercises, HLS grants, and grant-related projects. Darrell continues to support community-wide planning on behalf of Providence. Darrell has an undergraduate degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in business, and retired from the naval reserve as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer December 1, 2015 (12 years active, 13 years reserve). He is most proud to be happily married (30+ years) and the father of three kids +1 (married daughter). 
Ryan Tuchmayer, MPH, CEM  Director of Emergency Management  
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 
 Ryan is the Director of Emergency Management for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He organizes the medical center’s emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. He also serves as a liaison between hospitals, clinics, and pre-hospital providers in the western region of Los Angeles. County. He is a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team for Los Angeles County (DMAT CA-9) and has deployed for exercises and disaster events, including hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. He is also a member of the California Medical Assistance Team and has deployed for the COVID and wildfires responses. 
Kyesha Turner, MPA, AEM  Manager,

On this episode of Transmission Interrupted, join hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo, along with guest Syra Madad, as they discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency management, public health, and health care systems. They explore the challenges faced by hospitals, social vulnerabilities highlighted by the pandemic, and the importance of investing in resources for communities.
Additionally, they delve into the prevalence of infectious disease outbreaks in pop culture, including the movies Outbreak and Contagion. The speakers also discuss the tools and strategies used for emergency preparedness and response, how these have evolved over time, and the importance of prevention in addition to preparedness. Tune in to learn more about the impact of infectious diseases and pandemics on our society and health care systems.
GuestSyra Madad, DHSc, MSc, MCP, CHEP  Dr. Syra Madad is an infectious disease epidemiologist, science communicator, and writer. She currently serves as the Senior Director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal health care delivery system overseeing special pathogen preparedness and response efforts across the enterprise. She's the Co-Principal Investigator at The Institute for Diseases and Disaster Management, fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Core Faculty at the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center and affiliate faculty at the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research at Boston University. Dr. Madad's work focuses on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from special pathogen outbreaks with an emphasis on health care and public health biopreparedness. 
HostsLauren Sauer, MScLauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the director of the Special Pathogens Research Network.
She previously served as Director of Operations for the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness where she ran the inpatient COVID19 biobank and served on the COVID-19 research steering committee for JHU. Lauren’s research focuses on human subjects research in bio-emergencies and disasters, in particular, ethical implementation of research and navigating the regulatory environment. The goal of her research is to provide health care facilities with the tools needed to conduct a clinical and operational research response in emergencies.
Rachel Lookadoo, JDRachel Lookadoo is an Assistant Professor in the Epidemiology department of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and serves as the Deputy Director of the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness, and Emerging Infectious Diseases. She also acts as the Director of Public Health Policy for the Water, Climate, and Health program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Ms. Lookadoo’s background is as an attorney, and she focuses on the various legal and regulatory issues that can arise in emergency preparedness and response. She specializes in public health impacts of climate change, healthcare surge events, isolation/quarantine law, crisis standards of care, infectious disease response, and general legal preparedness. Ms. Lookadoo also conducts emergency preparedness trainings and assessments for public health departments and healthcare facilities nationally. Ms. Lookadoo received her Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law, and her Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University.
ResourcesNETEC: a...

Pathogens in Pop Culture: Jack Ryan, The Hot Zone, and EbolaIn episode two of the Pathogens in Pop Culture series, hosts Lauren Sauer and Rachel Lookadoo welcome guest Dr. Billy Fischer to discuss the portrayal of Ebola Virus Disease in the 2018 Jack Ryan TV series and Richard Preston's 1994 novel, The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story. Together, they will explore the science behind the virus, including its transmission, approaches to treatment and care, and the accuracy of its portrayal in the TV series and the book. Join us for an in-depth analysis of the science and myths surrounding Ebola in popular culture.
Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.
Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.
GuestWilliam A. Fischer II, MDWilliam A Fischer, II, MD, serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He is a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine with expertise in severe emerging viral infections, clinical research, and international health. Dr Fischer graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was an Assistant Chief of Service. Dr Fischer has extensive field experience providing medical care in resource limited settings and was deployed as a WHO critical care physician to care for Ebola-infected patients in Gueckedou, Guinea, the epicenter of the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, N'zerekore in response to a resurgence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and the Democratic Republic of Congo for outbreaks in 2018 and 2019 where he helped launch the use of novel therapeutics and optimized supportive care. Dr Fischer has active research programs exploring the clinical complications of Ebola virus disease, the prevalence, pathogenesis, and persistence of Lassa Fever (PREPARE study), and serves as one of the principal investigators for an NIH study (PREVAIL IV) evaluating a novel antiviral compound for efficacy in reducing or eliminating Ebola virus shedding in male survivors of EVD. He also has research programs exploring respiratory viral infections in high-risk populations including the elderly and HIV-infected individuals. Dr Fischer serves as the Director of Emerging Pathogens for the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He is also a member of the WHO Epidemic Clinical Management Team, the WHO Antiviral Working Group, the WHO Personal Protective Equipment End-User's Advisory Council, the WHO Advisory Committee on Infection, Prevention, and Control, and was a member of the CDC Ebola Response Team.
HostsLauren Sauer, MScLauren is an Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Core Faculty of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the director of the Special Pathogens Research Network.
She previously served as Director of Operations for the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness where she ran the inpatient COVID19 biobank and served on the COVID-19 research steering committee for JHU. Lauren’s research focuses on human subjects research in bio-emergencies and disasters, in particular, ethical implementation of research and navigating the regulatory environment. The goal of her research is to provide health care...