Selected Events in August 2020

All facilities of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are closed.  All gatherings have been converted to virtual meetings.  Click on each event title below to access meeting details, an agenda, and registration information, or contact the Office of News and Public Information (e-mail news@nas.edu). Reporters should register for all meetings.  More events can be found at https://www.nationalacademies.org/events.

Restoring the Gulf After Deepwater Horizon: Perspective from the Front Lines

Aug. 4

Leaders engaged in restoring the Gulf Coast 10 years after Deepwater Horizon will share their perspectives on how resilience and restoration projects are being designed and implemented, and what challenges lie ahead. They will also discuss how to measure the success of restoration projects, as well as lessons learned for future work.

Current Issues in the Assessment of Respiratory Protective Devices

Aug. 4 and 5

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. government’s first approval of a respiratory protective device for use by American workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to continue supporting research and standards to protect workers and the public. Presentations at this workshop will examine future research needs as well as approaches to communicate guidance on the use of respiratory protective devices and cloth face coverings, to both the public and non-health care workers.

Drug Research and Development for Older Adults

Aug. 5 and 6

Older adults — particularly those over 65 and over 80 — are vastly underrepresented in clinical trials. Consequently, there is little evidence-based information to guide medication use for older populations. This workshop will explore approaches to engage older adults in clinical research, and potential methodologies to study differences in how this population tolerates certain drugs.

Preparing Health Professions Faculty for the Future

Aug. 11

The faculty at medical schools, nursing schools, and other schools of health professions play a critical role in the U.S. health care system. This workshop will discuss how to build a diverse pipeline and broaden recruitment into health professions education; train new recruits and current faculty to be effective educators; and evaluate the impacts of faculty training programs.

High-Impact Educational Practices in Uncertain Times

Aug. 17

As two- and four-year colleges are formulating plans to reopen virtually or in person in the fall, this webinar will explore how some faculty members are translating high-impact teaching practices to online spaces. Speakers will explore lessons learned from COVID-19 transitions so far.

The Critical Public Health Value of Vaccines: Tackling Issues of Access and Hesitancy

Aug. 17 – 20

Part two of a virtual workshop series, this workshop will explore the factors that hinder or promote vaccine uptake, and what role misinformation plays. Speakers will discuss communication strategies that could help ease anxieties about vaccine safety — a priority issue in the age of COVID-19.

Caring for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Primary Care Settings

Aug. 26

This third webinar in a series will explore opportunities to improve training of the mental health and substance abuse workforce in America, with a special focus on rural health workforce issues. It will also examine payments, policies, and incentives that could support care for depression, alcohol use disorders, and opioid use disorders in primary care settings. 

Achieving Excellence in Sepsis Diagnosis

Aug. 27

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals as well as the leading cause of readmissions. This webinar will examine opportunities to improve sepsis diagnosis through novel biomarkers and molecular diagnostics, machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, and quality improvement efforts.

Reports Scheduled for Release in August

Release dates for the following consensus reports and proceedings from the National Academies depend on successful completion of the review process and publishing schedules. Reporters who would like to be notified when a report is due for release should contact the Office of News and Public Information (e-mail news@nas.edu) and ask to be placed on a contact list.

A Framework for Assessing Mortality and Morbidity After Large-Scale Disasters

There are many gray areas when collecting data on how and why people died in a disaster, but getting accurate data is vital to recovery and future preparedness efforts. This report identifies best practices for collecting, recording, and reporting mortality and significant morbidity data after disasters, and examines how public health departments and health care organizations can benefit from this information.

Respiratory Health Effects of Airborne Hazards Exposures in the Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations

This report will evaluate the available evidence regarding the respiratory health effects of exposure to airborne hazards — including burn pits — among veterans who served in the Persian Gulf region and Afghanistan. It also outlines future research that could be feasibly conducted to inform the field and provide answers.

Review of the New York City Watershed Protection Program

This report will review and evaluate the New York City Watershed Protection Program to determine if its current activities will comply with the Surface Water Treatment Rule in to the future.

ALSO OF INTEREST

Resources on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Explore the National Academies’ latest news and resources related to COVID-19, as well as consensus studies and workshop proceedings on the subject of pandemic infectious disease. 

Resources on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Across the nation, Americans are calling for an end to police brutality and long-standing racial injustice in the midst of a global pandemic that is disproportionately impacting minorities and other vulnerable communities. Research in social science, medicine, and other fields can shed light on the factors that drive systemic inequities — not only in society at large but also within the sciences, engineering, and medicine. A range of work at the National Academies explores this research.

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