Newswise — The following faculty members of The George Washington University Medical Center are available to comment on topics regarding the swine flu outbreak.
For comment from a medical perspective, the following expert is available for comment: Gary Simon, MD, PhD, MACPWalter G. Ross Professor of Clinical ResearchProfessor of Medicine and of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyDirector, Division of Infectious DiseasesVice Chairman, Department of MedicineDepartment of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)
In the early 1980s, Dr. Simon recognized the first AIDS case in Washington, DC . His research into the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted with AIDS continues at the present. Currently, he works with Dr. Hotez in vaccine development, while maintaining his focus "on how to translate what is being done in the laboratory to the betterment of mankind. His expertise in clinical infectious diseases has earned him a national reputation and regional recognition as the pre-eminent infectious diseases clinician in the DC area," said colleague Dr. Alan Wasserman, president of the Medical Faculty Associates and chair of the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Simon is vice chairman of the Department of Medicine and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He holds joint appointments in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and in Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine; and he is director of the Clinical Trials Unit with the GW Medical Faculty Associates. He is the first Walter G. Ross Professor of Clinical Research at GW.His research interests are in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV infectionand its complications. He is especially interested in the interaction between HIV and diseases of sub-Saharan Africa, notably tuberculosis.
Dr. Simon is a native of Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He obtained his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He returned to the University of Maryland where he received his M.D. degree and did internal medicine residency. He did his infectious disease training at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston.
For comment from a historical infectious disease standpoint and a psychiatry perspective, the following expert if available for comment:
Amir Afkhami, MD, PhD, MA, MPhilInstructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and of Global Health
Dr. Amir Afkhami is an international expert on the 1918 Influenza pandemic, having written a seminal paper on the synergism of the 1918 virus and malaria in the Bulletin of the History of Medicine:http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/bulletin_of_the_history_of_medicine/v077/77.2afkhami.html
His work on the topic have won both the Pfizer Prize and the Pressman-Burroughs Wellcome Award. He has been sited and interviewed in a number of papers on pandemic influenza, most recently in "The Monster at our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu." Amir A. Afkhami, MD, PhD, MA, MPhil " Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and of Global Health at GWU. An expert in the modern history of disease and medicine, much of Dr. Afkhami's current work focuses on the mental health consequences of conflict and on strengthening the mental health infrastructure, especially in the Middle East. Bridging the worlds of patient care and global public health delivery, Dr. Afkhami currently directs the State Department funded Iraq Mental Health Initiative (IMHI) working to repair the Iraq's mental health delivery system. As an advisor to the U.S. State Department, the U.S. military, and the World Bank on issues pertaining to infectious diseases, public health and, mental health in the Middle East, and Government of Iraq, Dr. Afkhami has won the Shyrock Medal, the Pfizer Prize in the History of Medicine, and the Pressman-Burroughs Wellcome Award from the American Association for the History of Medicine.
For comment from a public health perspective, the following expert is available for comment:
Daniel Hoffman, MSPH, PhDCo-Director of the Epi-Bio/MITM Emerging Infectious Diseases programProfessor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Daniel A. Hoffman is a in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Department of Global Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, and co-director of the Master of Science in Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases program. He has a long career that has blended research, public service and a commitment to training a new generation of public health professionals. Prior to joining GW, he was associate director for science at the National Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control at the CDC. His current research interests include public health syndromic surveillance.
For comment regarding Homeland security in relation to the swine flu, the following experts are available for comment:
Frank CilluffoAssociate Vice PresidentGW Homeland Security Policy Institute
An Associate Vice President at The George Washington University, Frank J. Cilluffo leads GW's homeland security efforts on policy, research, education, and training. He directs the multi-disciplinary Homeland Security Policy Institute, a unique, nonpartisan "think and do tank" that builds bridges between theory and practice to advance homeland security through a multi and interdisciplinary approach. The Institute's recent policy and research agenda covers a wide range of national and homeland security matters, including the conflict in Afghanistan and crisis in Pakistan, emergency management, de-radicalization and counter-narrative efforts, Congressional oversight of homeland security, bio-terrorism and bio-defense, and intelligence and information sharing. Cilluffo co-chairs HSPI's Ambassadors Roundtable Series on International Collaboration to Combat Terrorism and Insurgencies, moderates the Institute's Policy & Research Forums, which spotlight cutting-edge policy solutions and innovative research, and facilitates a variety of other programmatic events. Through the Ambassadors Roundtable Series, HSPI has engaged over thirty ambassadors and cabinet level officials in an ongoing dialogue on the counterterrorism efforts of multiple nations.
Cilluffo joined GW in April 2003 from the White House where he served as Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Shortly following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Cilluffo was appointed by the President to the newly created Office of Homeland Security, and served as a principal advisor to Governor Tom Ridge.
Prior to his White House appointment, Cilluffo spent eight years in senior policy positions with the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank. At CSIS he chaired or directed numerous committees and task forces on homeland defense, counterterrorism, transnational crime, and information warfare and information assurance.
Dan KaniewskiDeputy Director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute
Mr. Kaniewski served on the White House staff from July 2005 to August 2008, most recently as Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Response Policy. Just one month after joining the White House, he witnessed first hand the failed response to Hurricane Katrina. He then served as a co-author and editor of the White House report The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. Following the publication of this report, he worked to improve the nation's response capabilities and advised the President and White House senior staff during domestic incidents (including both man-made and natural disasters). He chaired the Domestic Readiness Group at the White House; managed the Presidential Disaster Declaration process; oversaw the development and approval of the National Response Framework and National Incident Management System; and traveled with the President aboard Air Force One to disaster sites.
Kaniewski re-joined The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) in August 2008, having previously served as the HSPI Deputy Director from 2002-2005. Kaniewski's current research interests include incident management, emergency management, and the homeland security policymaking process, including the structure and functions of the Homeland Security Council and National Security Council. His op-ed "Not Your Father's FEMA" recently appeared in The Washington Times.
Earlier in his career he was a Congressional Liaison for Terrorism Preparedness and Consequence Management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Prior to 9/11, Kaniewski served as Homeland Security Fellow to members of the U.S. House of Representatives where he conducted research on congressional coordination for homeland security. He published his research and proposed a House Select Committee on Homeland Security in June 2001. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert subsequently created the Select Committee on Homeland Security for the 108th Congress. Kaniewski continues to speak about and write on the need for congressional coordination for homeland security, with multiple op-eds on the topic having been featured in such publications as Roll Call and The Washington Times.
From 1996-2000 he utilized his experience as a firefighter and paramedic to assist policymakers as Emergency Medical Services Advisor to the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating members of Congress on fire and EMS issues.
Prior to and following his White House service, Kaniewski has appeared live on national television networks including Fox News Channel and PBS, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Washington Times, Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call.Kaniewski holds a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in Emergency Medical Services from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, a Master of Arts degree with distinction in National Security Studies from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and is certified as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from The George Washington University.
Rebecca Katz, PhD, MPHAssistant Research Professor in the Department of Health Policy
Rebecca Katz is an Assistant Research Professor at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in the Department of Health Policy. Her research is focused on public health preparedness, biological warfare, and the intersection of infectious diseases and national security. Current research projects are focused on evaluating bioterrorism training for clinicians and the implementation of the International Health Regulations.
She previously worked on Biological Warfare (BW) counterproliferation at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and was an Intelligence Research Fellow at the Center for Strategic Intelligence Research in the Joint Military Intelligence College. She also spent several years as a public health consultant for The Lewin Group working with foundations on community based public health projects, with the federal government on the infectious disease surveillance system, and with local and state health departments on maternal and child health policy. Since September 2004, Dr. Katz has been a consultant to the Department of State, working on issues related to Biological Weapons, attribution and the Biological Weapons Convention for the Bureau of Verification, Compliance and Implementation.
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