Open to Debate and Johns Hopkins’ SNF Agora Institute Debate “Was COVID a Public Health Failure?”

Debaters include former CDC director Tom Frieden, Influencer Doctor Mike Varshavski, former Surgeon General Jerome Adams, emergency medicine physician Dara Kass 

Live in Baltimore, Wednesday September 17

On September 17 in Baltimore, Open to Debate and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University will host the third debate in their ongoing partnership, “The Hopkins Forum”.

The pandemic revealed both vulnerabilities and resilience across our systems and communities. This debate brings together national leaders in medicine and public health to consider where the response fell short, what lessons we can take forward, and how to strengthen trust and preparedness for the future.

All four debaters will examine all sides of the question: “Was COVID a Public Health Failure or Did Society Fail Public Health?”

Team One will be Doctor Mike Varshavski, a board-certified family medicine physician, UNICEF Ambassador, and the most followed doctor on social media, and Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC and current President and Chief Executive Officer at Resolve to Save Lives. Team Two will be Jerome Adams, the Surgeon General of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Dara Kass a practicing emergency medicine physician who during COVID became widely followed for her ability to translate complex medical issues into accessible, actionable information.

It has been five years since the start of COVID-19, and the world is still reckoning with its impact: millions of lives lost, strained health systems, and divisions that continue to shape our politics and daily lives. Public health agencies like the CDC and WHO were asked to respond to fast-moving science and intense uncertainty, while societies faced the challenge of trust, misinformation, and compliance with evolving guidance.

This debate asks a pressing question: where did the pandemic response break down, and what does that teach us about the responsibilities of both public health systems and the societies they serve?

Some argue that institutional preparedness and communication were not strong enough to meet the crisis. Others emphasize the role of social mistrust, misinformation, and resistance to basic measures that made it difficult for even the best-prepared systems to succeed.

The goal of this conversation is not to assign blame but to examine what happened, why it mattered, and how public health and society can work together more effectively when the next crisis arrives.

The debate will take place Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM (6:00 PM doors) at the Alumni Auditorium in the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD). Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for in-person or virtual access.

The event follows the launch of The Hopkins Forum earlier this year with live debates in both Washington DC and Baltimore. In the first debate, Jeff Sessions, Jeff Flake, Christina Rodriguez, and Jamal Greene debated the future of the Supreme Court. In the second, former Congressman and CIA officer Will Hurd and State Department veteran Susan Thornton debated the US-China A.I. arms race. Six more debates in the Hopkins Forum series, including this coming event, will be produced through 2026 in DC and Baltimore.

DEBATER BIOS

Dr. Jerome Adams: 20th Surgeon General of the United States; Presidential Fellow, Executive Director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning (HEAL), and Distinguished Professor of Practice at Purdue University

Dr. Jerome Adams is a physician, public health leader, and tireless advocate for health equity, whose work continues to shape the nation’s response to some of its most urgent health challenges. Dr. Adams currently serves as a Presidential Fellow and Executive Director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning at Purdue University and holds the title of Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health. However, he is perhaps best known for his service as the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. During his time as Surgeon General, Dr. Adams served as the operational head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, overseeing over 6,000 uniformed health officers. His leadership helped guide the nation through a series of historic public health crises, including three consecutive category 5 hurricanes and, most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tom Frieden: Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); President and Chief Executive Officer at Resolve to Save Lives

Dr. Tom Frieden served as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Commissioner of the New York City Health Department. His work made NYC’s tuberculosis control program and overall health department models for the world, established effective programs in India, and improved morale, effectiveness, and impact at the CDC. Dr. Frieden is a physician with advanced training in internal medicine, infectious disease, public health, and epidemiology. He currently runs a non-profit organization, Resolve to Save Lives, which partners with communities and countries to address the world’s deadliest health threats. His new book, "The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own," is on sale on September 30. 

Dr. Dara Kass: Emergency Medicine Physician; Founder of the FemInEM Foundation; Former Region 2 Regional Director at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Dara Kass is a practicing emergency medicine physician in New York City and a nationally recognized medical messenger. She rose to prominence as a trusted public voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, appearing regularly on national cable news, local broadcasts, and leading digital platforms to provide clear, evidence-based insights on the evolving crisis. As a medical contributor to Yahoo News she developed a digital series "Fact or Fiction" which helped audiences find the actionable guidance amongst a daily barrage of new information. Known for her ability to translate complex medical issues into accessible, actionable information, Dr. Kass became a go-to expert for audiences seeking clarity amid uncertainty. In addition to her media work, she continues to care for patients on the front lines, bringing the perspective of an actively practicing emergency physician to her commentary on public health, policy, and the healthcare system.

Doctor Mike Varshavski: Board-certified family medicine physician, UNICEF Ambassador, and Influencer 

Doctor Mike Varshavski is a board-certified family medicine physician and the most followed doctor on social media, amassing over 5 billion views on YouTube alone. He has established himself as the premier source for authentic medical information online, regularly debunking misleading claims about everything from vaccines to TikTok trends. For his work, he has been named a UNICEF ambassador. On his podcast, "The Checkup," he has interviewed the largest names in politics and culture, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Emmy-nominated star Noah Wyle. 

ABOUT OPEN TO DEBATE

Open to Debate addresses a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. We are the nation's only nonpartisan, debate-driven media organization dedicated to bringing multiple viewpoints together for a constructive, balanced, respectful exchange of ideas. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues. We know debate works to find common ground: On average, 32% of the Open to Debate audience changes their mind on contentious topics after hearing a debate. That’s the power of debate done right, and at scale, it can change the direction we’re headed in America. Open to Debate is broadcast as a weekly public radio program, carried on NPR stations including WNYC (#1 in the nation). Open to Debate is made available as a podcast, video series, and digital platform, and records episodes with live audiences nationwide. Visit opentodebate.org to become a member, access an archive of more than 220 debates, and attend live events.

ABOUT THE SNF AGORA INSTITUTE

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University is an academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy through research, teaching, and practice. Founded in 2017 with a visionary $150 million grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the institute draws inspiration from the ancient Athenian agora—a space for open debate and deliberation—to bridge divides, expand civic engagement, and foster informed, inclusive, dialogue as the cornerstone of robust democracy.

SNF Agora organizes its work around three pillars:

• Discovery: Advancing transformative, multi-disciplinary research to address democratic decline and identify sources of resilience.
• Design: Collaborating with practitioners to develop usable knowledge that transforms academic insight into real-world impact.
• Dialogue: Creating spaces for inclusive civic discourse, public convenings, and educational programs that empower citizens to engage meaningfully in democracy.

Through its work, the SNF Agora Institute empowers citizens with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas to participate meaningfully in civic life. Its scholars and practitioners collaborate to address challenges to democracy, bridge divides, and cultivate democratic resilience through research, innovative interventions, and public engagement.

For more information about the SNF Agora Institute, visit www.snfagora.jhu.edu.