UCSD’s Revelle Forum Presents John M. Barry
Award-winning author and historian speaks on
The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History

February 1, 2007

By Jackie Carr

UCSD Extension is pleased to announce that celebrated historian John M. Barry, author of the New York Times bestsellers, Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, and The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History, will speak on Tuesday, February 20th, 7:00-8:30 p.m., as part of UCSD’s Revelle Forum at The Neurosciences Institute. Named 2005's outstanding book by the National Academy of Sciences, The Great Influenza tells the compelling and surprisingly little-known story of the 1918 flu pandemic that killed 50-100 million people worldwide. In his talk Barry will recount the massive social upheavals wreaked by the swift and deadly disease, and the frantic efforts of medical researchers confronting "the first great collision between nature and modern science," while exposing the government's refusal to divert resources from WWI to combat the disease. The evening concludes with a panel discussion on the lessons of the 1918 epidemic and political challenges to present-day disease control.

Admission to this event is $35 per person. Registrations may be made by calling UCSD Extension at 858-882-8000, or online at extension.ucsd.edu/revelleforum. The series takes place in the auditorium of The Neurosciences Institute located at 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive (parking is free). Advance registration strongly advised. No refunds. When registering, refer to section ID number 058589. Call 858-882-8000 to register.

In addition to Mr. Barry, panelists for the program will include: Dr. Steve Waterman, Senior Medical Epidemiologist and Captain, US Public Health Service Commissioned Corp, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in San Diego; Dr. Leonard J. Deftos, Professor of Medicine, UCSD; Bryan Liang, Executive Director of The Institute of Health Law Studies and Professor of Law, California Western School of Law; and Steven R. Smith, Dean of the California Western School of Law. This program is presented in collaboration with the California Western School of Law and the joint UCSD-Cal Western Masters degree program in Health Law.

 

Media Contacts:
Dan Atkinson, (858) 964-1051
Jackie Carr, (858) 822-2029