Pandemic Center
Associate Professor Craig Spencer smiles at camera while posing in front of an office building.

Craig Spencer, M.D., MPH

Associate Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health
craig_spencer@brown.edu
Research Profile
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Biography

Dr. Spencer is an emergency medicine physician and an Associate Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice at Brown University School of Public Health. As a physician he focuses on frontline preparedness, both in the U.S. and globally, especially on the impact of COVID-19 on health systems. This includes the real world impact of pandemic preparedness – or lack of preparedness – for clinicians and patients, particularly from a humanitarian perspective.

An advocate for equitable access to medical countermeasures, diagnostics, and treatment, he also explores the historical foundations for the COVID response, based on the response to previous pandemics. He brings to the Pandemic Center a unique understanding of the current operational level of pandemic preparedness and response, the scope of which includes providers, patients, and frontline readiness, locally, nationally, and globally.

Recent News

Democracy Now

Ebola Death Toll in DRC Tops 4,000; Trump USAID Cuts Fuel Outbreak

We go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the site of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. Health authorities believe the outbreak first began in January but was not detected until May, in part due to cuts in global health investments, like the dismantling of USAID. Since then, over 8,000 cases have been recorded, with more than 4,000 fatalities so far.

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Brown Daily Herald

Wilmot James brings new perspective to role as director of Watson School’s Africa Initiative

Before Wilmot James — professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice — took the helm of the Africa Initiative at the Watson School of International and Public Affairs this year, he had on a number of different roles. From penning a speech for Nelson Mandela to serving in the South African Parliament, James brings wide-ranging knowledge of African health security to his new role on College Hill.
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The Atlantic

The Lessons About Ebola the U.S. Wants to Forget

The world’s capacity to control the disease has improved in the past decade, but only because of dedicated investment and coordination.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the third-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded. It will likely pass the second largest, an outbreak in the same region of Congo from 2018 to 2020. Already, the current outbreak has grown past 2,000 cases and to 754 deaths; according to the World Health Organization, it is likely to reach more than 8,000 cases and 1,400 deaths by mid-September. The CDC’s worst-case scenario projects more than 20,000 cases by mid-August.
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Watson School of International and Public Affairs

Why this Ebola outbreak might be the deadliest one yet

In May, an outbreak of the Ebola virus was officially declared in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aid groups are warning that it could become the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.

On this episode, Dan Richards spoke with two experts about why this outbreak is uniquely concerning, what the global health community needs to do to respond effectively, and how U.S. international aid policy under the Trump Administration has affected the trajectory of this public health crisis.
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Foreign Relations Committee

ICYMI: Ranking Member Shaheen Discusses Ebola Outbreak with Ebola Survivor Dr. Craig Spencer

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, highlighted the disastrous impact that the Trump Administration’s dismantling of USAID programs has had on the fight against Ebola.
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