How Science is Driving Solutions to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sunday, October 25, 2020 7:00 PM ET

The medical field and industry are working together at lightning speed to learn more about the virus and the immune response to the virus. Hear from a panel of D-E experts who will offer their perspectives on the science and research towards developing a COVID-19 vaccination. Plus, they will share the latest on transmission, tracking, tracing, and treating.

Moderator: Harris Faulkner P '27

Harris Faulkner is a six-time Emmy Award winning American journalist for Fox News Channel. She joined the network in 2005, where she anchors weekdays, the news program ‘Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner’ and co-hosts the news and politics talk show ‘Outnumbered’. Harris also anchors her own prime time franchise called ‘Harris Faulkner Presents’ tackling issues such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, race and violence in America and more. She has interviewed President Trump and co-hosted a Town Hall with the White House COVID-19 Task Force.

Panelists:

Dr. Shira Doron '90, Hospital Epidemiologist and Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, Tufts University Medical Center

Shira Doron is currently the Hospital Epidemiologist as well as Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Tufts Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Doron is board certified in infectious diseases.

Dr. Doron is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and residency at the George Washington University Hospital. She completed her fellowship training in Infectious Diseases at Tufts Medical Center, along with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University. Her research interests include antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, and hospital acquired infections.

Dr. Doron is known locally and nationally for her expertise in antimicrobial stewardship and infection control. She has held contracts with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support healthcare facilities throughout the region in their efforts to improve their stewardship and infection control initiatives. She is vice chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Centers of Excellence subcommittee and chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Centers of Excellence review committee.

Louisa Roberts P '31, '33, VP Corporate Development & Partnerships, PRA Health Sciences

Louisa Roberts works at the intersection of science, technology and business to drive innovation and new sources of revenue. In her role at PRA she is responsible for seeking acquisitions and partnerships that support the digital transformation of healthcare and the integration of clinical research with clinical care. She has defined strategy and improved decision making in all business critical functions, including R&D, Manufacturing, New Product Development, Marketing, Managed Markets and Sales. Her areas of expertise include Artificial Intelligence, Precision Medicine, Clinical Research & Development Strategy, Life Science Commercial Strategy, Market Access Strategy, Patient Engagement & Outreach, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Pharmacovigilance, Real World Evidence, Predictive Analytics, Business Strategy & Innovation, Lean Sigma Black Belt. Louisa attended the University of Edinburgh and received her MBA from Dartmouth College - The Tuck School of Business.

Julie Rubinstein P '23, President, Adaptive Biotechnologies

Julie Rubinstein is the President of Adaptive Biotechnologies. Ms. Rubinstein joined Adaptive in 2011 as the head of Corporate and Business Development. In 2016, she became the Chief Business Officer and led the company’s Life Sciences Research Business through two years of double-digit growth. Then, in February 2018, she began serving as President, overseeing the expansion of all of the business lines including Life Sciences Research, Clinical Diagnostics, and Drug Discovery, with continued oversight of Corporate and Business Development functions. Prior to joining Adaptive, Ms. Rubinstein held various worldwide commercial development roles at Pfizer Oncology, primarily focusing on cancer immunotherapy. She also held multiple positions at Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Endo-Surgery division, where she helped commercialize a breast cancer diagnostic device in major European markets. She began her career in Morgan Stanley’s Global Health Care Group as a financial analyst. Ms. Rubinstein holds a dual degree, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Pennsylvania’s Undergraduate Wharton School and Annenberg School of Communications, with a minor in French. She also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for The Valerie Fund, a pediatric oncology organization in New Jersey and New York.

Julie Schiffman P '23, Senior Vice President, Scientific Engagement and Delivery, Aetion

Julie Schiffman is the Senior Vice President of Scientific Engagement and Delivery at Aetion. Previously, she spent 17 years at Pfizer working on both the commercial and R&D sides of the business to improve overall R&D productivity and get treatments to patients faster, and at a lower cost. Most recently, Julie was the Vice President, Global Business Analytics, where she led a 350-person data and analytics team as they ran analyses to drive Pfizer’s business and portfolio forward. Prior to Pfizer, Julie spent time consulting at Deloitte. She received her B.A. from Brown University, and her M.B.A. from the Wharton School.

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