WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Pandemic Game Changers,” a course aimed at preparing the next generation of Pandemic decisionmakers, will be available to Brown University students in Providence and in Washington, D.C., beginning in fall 2024, marking a new partnership between the Pandemic Center at the Brown School of Public Health and the University’s Brown in Washington (DC) program. There is a March 1st deadline for students to apply for the D.C. program, and the course.

“Pandemic Game Changers, Preparing the Next Generation of Decision-Makers for Emerging Biological Threats (PHP1580),” provides students a new and unique opportunity to take on the role of pandemic decisionmaker by learning from biosecurity and public health experts while working in Washington, D.C. The course, developed by the Pandemic Center and taught by the center’s leaders, will include two sections of students, one each in Providence and Washington, D.C. The course was originally designed and co-taught in the fall 2023 semester by Dr. Beth Cameron and Dr. Wilmot James, professors of the practice of health services, policy and practice at Brown and senior advisors to the Pandemic Center.

“We need to train the next generation of decision-makers — those who will be in the situation room — to be ready for worst-case scenarios,” said Dr. Cameron. “This course offers students a unique opportunity to learn the skills to fill those roles while getting real, hands-on experience.”

Dr. James added, “The ‘Pandemic Game Changers’ course is a reflection of the Pandemic Center’s commitment to not just instill lessons from the past in a diverse group of decision-makers but to train that next generation to apply those lessons to an uncertain future.”.

“Pandemic Game Changers” sits at the critical intersection of national security, health, and democratic resilience and provides opportunities for students to examine the public health and public policy issues vital to mitigating pandemic risks. It will afford students opportunities to analyze scenarios, identify and hone policy solutions, and learn how to convince decision-makers to take the steps needed to address the public health crises caused by emerging biological threats. 

Dr. Cameron, based in Washington, D.C., twice served as the global health security lead on the White House National Security Council staff and specializes in health security, pandemic preparedness, and biotechnology risks and rewards. Dr. James, based in Providence, is a former parliamentarian and former Shadow Minister of Health from South Africa who focuses on biosecurity, biosurveillance, and global health. 

This expanded course offering is indicative of the role of the Pandemic Center’s Washington, D.C. office, officially opened in January 2024.  Pandemic Center leaders identify this course and partnership with Brown in Washington as an integral step toward the goal of educating and inspiring the next generation of public health leaders and building the skills to prevent and respond effectively to infectious disease emergencies.

Students interested in applying for the Brown in Washington Program (by March 1, 2024) can fill out this interest form to stay in contact with the program. Associate Director Jocelyn Frelier and Program Assistant Sally Ryan (a fall ‘23 program alumna) will be on the lower level of the Brown Curricular Resource Center (167 Angell Street) on February 14th between 4-6pm to meet with students and answer their questions. Questions about the program can also be directed to jocelyn_frelier@brown.edu. Providence-based students will be able to join the course through the standard fall 2024 registration and shopping period.