2003 Hansen Award
2003 – Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D.
Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D., professor of public health and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, was selected as the recipient of the 2003 Richard and Barbara Hansen Leadership Award and Distinguished Lectureship.
On Oct. 22, 2003, Osterholm delivered the Hansen Distinguished Lecture, “Emerging Infections: The New Infectious Disease Frontier,” in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union. During his visit to the UI campus, Osterholm met with students and faculty to discuss his research, participated in seminars, and engaged in roundtable discussions. He also met with local legislators and community officials.
Biographical Information
Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D., is professor of public health and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. He is a noted public health scientist whose areas of expertise include bioterrorism, antibiotic resistance, food safety, and infectious disease.
Dr. Osterholm served for 24 years (1975-1999) in various roles at the Minnesota Department of Health, the last 15 as state epidemiologist and chief of the Acute Disease Epidemiology Section. He has led numerous investigations of outbreaks of international importance, including foodborne diseases, the association of tampons and toxic shock syndrome, the transmission of hepatitis B in healthcare settings, and human immunodeficiency virus infection in healthcare workers.
Dr. Osterholm has been a national leader detailing the growing concern regarding the use of biological agents as catastrophic weapons targeting civilian populations. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Dr. Osterholm has served as a Special Advisor to Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on issues related to bioterrorism and public health preparedness. He was also appointed to the Secretary’s Advisory Council on Public Health Preparedness, Department of Health and Human Services. He is the author of more than 285 papers and abstracts, including 18 book chapters. A native of Waukon, Iowa, Dr. Osterholm also is the author of the best-selling book, “Living Terrors: What America Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe.”