1. Michael Thomas Osterholm was born on March 10,1953 and is an American epidemiologist, Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
On November 9,2020, Osterholm was named to newly elected President Joe Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Board.
Michael Osterholm was born in Waukon, Iowa, the son of a newspaper photographer.
From 1975 to 1999, Michael Osterholm served in various roles at the Minnesota Department of Health, including as state epidemiologist and Chief of the Acute Disease Epidemiology Section from 1984 to 1999.
At the MDH, Michael Osterholm strengthened the department's role in infectious disease epidemiology, notably including numerous foodborne disease outbreaks, the association between tampons and toxic shock syndrome, and the transmission of hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus in healthcare workers.
Thompson asked Michael Osterholm to assist Gerberding on his behalf during the transition period.
Michael Osterholm is a frequent guest lecturer on the epidemiology of infectious diseases.
Michael Osterholm discussed the COVID-19 pandemic on The Joe Rogan Experience in March 2020 and February 2022, as well as on NBC's Meet the Press in October 2020.
Michael Osterholm was the principal investigator and director of the National Institutes of Health -supported Minnesota Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance and chaired the Executive Committee of the Centers of Excellence Influenza Research and Surveillance network.
Michael Osterholm is a past president of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and served on the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases Board of Scientific Counselors from 1992 to 1997.
Michael Osterholm served on the Institute of Medicine Forum on Microbial Threats from 1994 to 2011.
Michael Osterholm has served on the IOM Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health in the 21st Century and the IOM Committee on Food Safety, Production to Consumption, and was a reviewer for the IOM Report on Chemical and Biological Terrorism.
Michael Osterholm is a frequent consultant to the World Health Organization, the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Defense, and the CDC.
Michael Osterholm is a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and the IDSA.
Michael Osterholm created The Osterholm Update: COVID-19, a podcast hosted by Chris Dall published every week beginning on March 24,2020, and every other week after May 27,2021.
Michael Osterholm has been particularly outspoken on the lack of international preparedness for an influenza pandemic.
Michael Osterholm has been an international leader against the use of biological agents as weapons targeted at civilians.
Michael Osterholm has published multiple commentaries in The New York Times, most recently on the repercussions of reductions in funding for research and vaccine development, and how this affects our ability to respond to new infectious disease threats.
Michael Osterholm has received honorary doctorates from Luther College and Des Moines University, and is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
Michael Osterholm has received six major research awards from the National Institutes of Health and the CDC.