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We’re pleased to host WNYC’s Annual Health Convening. This year there will be a series of discussions on COVID-19 and the American Healthcare System. The convening will take place as a live digital event giving attendees the opportunity to send in their questions to the panel. We’re gathering experts to discuss COVID-19 and its impact on:

The Future of mRNA Vaccines

Singular icons tend to define tectonic shifts in technology. Messenger RNA vaccines may ultimately fall into this category. The pandemic revealed their ability toward rapidly addressing a crisis, but their legacy might be their lasting impact on how drugs are approved. This panel will explore the short-term and long-term prospects of mRNA vaccines. With panelists Dr. Jeffrey E. Harris MD PhD, Professor of Economics Emeritus, MIT and Dr. Celine Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA, Internist, Infectious Disease specialist, Epidemiologist, CEO of Just Human Productions, Host of Epidemic and American Diagnosis podcasts. Moderated by Nsikan Akpan, PhD, WNYC Health and Science Editor.

Black Lives, Mental Health, and Policing in NYC

Many cities and states rely on law enforcement to help people during mental health emergencies, a policy that’s faced scrutiny due to concerns of overpolicing. This one-on-one conversation with Dr. Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH, Director, François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights, will explore how jurisdictions are exploring alternatives to incorporate mental health professionals into these emergency responses. Moderated by Christopher Werth, Senior Editor of the WNYC Narrative Unit.

The Long-Term Effects & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic and mental health conditions account for 90% of the $3.8 trillion health care expenditures spent in the United States every year. Long COVID Syndrome threatens to add to this burden, as millions of people who recover from the virus are expected to deal with lingering symptoms. This panel will explore what research is underway to classify this chronic condition and how past experience with viral syndromes can guide the path forward. With panelist Dr. Mady Hornig, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Columbia University Medical Center and Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Moderated by Nsikan Akpan, PhD, WNYC Health and Science Editor.