Dan Diekema
@dandiekema.bsky.social
Infectious diseases physician, epidemiologist, and clinical microbiologist. University of Iowa to Maine Medical Center-MaineHealth. Views are my own
Reposted by Dan Diekema
A new approach to pandemic preparedness:
1️⃣ Stop preparing for pandemics
2️⃣ Rewrite history of the last major pandemic
3️⃣ Go to the gym
Simple - 🤷♂️.
www.city-journal.org/article/nih-...
1️⃣ Stop preparing for pandemics
2️⃣ Rewrite history of the last major pandemic
3️⃣ Go to the gym
Simple - 🤷♂️.
www.city-journal.org/article/nih-...
NIH Directors: The World Needs a New Pandemic Playbook
The old one failed to cope with Covid and may even have caused it.
www.city-journal.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A new approach to pandemic preparedness:
1️⃣ Stop preparing for pandemics
2️⃣ Rewrite history of the last major pandemic
3️⃣ Go to the gym
Simple - 🤷♂️.
www.city-journal.org/article/nih-...
1️⃣ Stop preparing for pandemics
2️⃣ Rewrite history of the last major pandemic
3️⃣ Go to the gym
Simple - 🤷♂️.
www.city-journal.org/article/nih-...
Reposted by Dan Diekema
@nejm.org + @cidrap.bsky.social are launching Public Health Alerts — a new rapid-report platform to rival MMWR. Free, timely, and aimed at practitioners & researchers alike.
#IDSky
#IDSky
NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication
Two institutions are coming together to create an alternative to the CDC’s vaunted Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
www.statnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
@nejm.org + @cidrap.bsky.social are launching Public Health Alerts — a new rapid-report platform to rival MMWR. Free, timely, and aimed at practitioners & researchers alike.
#IDSky
#IDSky
Reposted by Dan Diekema
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Welcome to the new Dark Ages. In one self inflicted blow the US is giving up on knowledge generation, technical innovation and medical advances for a generation or more. This is Trump and Vought. This is their doing.
The pipeline for Ph.D.s out of U.S. universities is shrinking www.axios.com/2025/10/26/p...
The pipeline for Ph.D.s out of U.S. universities is shrinking
America graduates more Ph.D.s than any other country. They go on to invent things, cure diseases and win Nobel Prizes. But admission slots are disappearing.
www.axios.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Welcome to the new Dark Ages. In one self inflicted blow the US is giving up on knowledge generation, technical innovation and medical advances for a generation or more. This is Trump and Vought. This is their doing.
Reposted by Dan Diekema
open.substack.com/pub/contrari... brilliant!!
The Ballroom and the Bubbles
Chalk another one up for the hollow men
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:45 PM
open.substack.com/pub/contrari... brilliant!!
Reposted by Dan Diekema
A standing ovation for me and @drdebhoury.bsky.social during a celebration of C. Everett Koop’s legacy! His moral courage should inspire all of us in #PublicHealth and #Medicine. Speaking truth to power and sticking to the science can change the world!
October 16, 2025 at 1:23 AM
A standing ovation for me and @drdebhoury.bsky.social during a celebration of C. Everett Koop’s legacy! His moral courage should inspire all of us in #PublicHealth and #Medicine. Speaking truth to power and sticking to the science can change the world!
Reposted by Dan Diekema
We call for the reversal of these dangerous firings, and for Congress to move quickly to pass full-year spending bills that ensure that proposed cuts to public health are averted and federal appropriations are spent as Congress intended.
Our full joint statement: https://bit.ly/3WBh8ig
Our full joint statement: https://bit.ly/3WBh8ig
October 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
We call for the reversal of these dangerous firings, and for Congress to move quickly to pass full-year spending bills that ensure that proposed cuts to public health are averted and federal appropriations are spent as Congress intended.
Our full joint statement: https://bit.ly/3WBh8ig
Our full joint statement: https://bit.ly/3WBh8ig
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Seen on LinkedIn: “Staff at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across multiple programs being fired tonight, including all current (civilian) Epidemic Intelligence Service, and several people working on the Ebola response.”
October 11, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Seen on LinkedIn: “Staff at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across multiple programs being fired tonight, including all current (civilian) Epidemic Intelligence Service, and several people working on the Ebola response.”
Reposted by Dan Diekema
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
Reposted by Dan Diekema
This is a study I worked on over the last few years with @kinnathakarar.bsky.social and others that shows the power of education on changing mindsets regarding stigmatized conditions!
Hospital clinician training transformed care for PWUD w/ severe infections. Post-training: 95% applied harm reduction (vs 55%), 69% discussed safer use (vs 38%).
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
A descriptive survey evaluating the implementation and outcomes of a training session highlighting concepts in antimicrobial management and harm reduction for hospital-based clinicians treating person...
Background: People who use drugs (PWUD) are at increased risk for severe infections and face many barriers when completing conventional, typically parenteral an...
journals.sagepub.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This is a study I worked on over the last few years with @kinnathakarar.bsky.social and others that shows the power of education on changing mindsets regarding stigmatized conditions!
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Awesome work by @mmadaio.bsky.social & team including @drelleneaton.bsky.social @monsikka.bsky.social. ✨
This is a study I worked on over the last few years with @kinnathakarar.bsky.social and others that shows the power of education on changing mindsets regarding stigmatized conditions!
Hospital clinician training transformed care for PWUD w/ severe infections. Post-training: 95% applied harm reduction (vs 55%), 69% discussed safer use (vs 38%).
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
September 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Awesome work by @mmadaio.bsky.social & team including @drelleneaton.bsky.social @monsikka.bsky.social. ✨
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Calling implementation scientists! Job alert: www.careersatmainehealth.org/jobs/1676915...
Faculty Scientist II or III - MaineHealth Institute for Research in
Westbrook,
ME,
...
Faculty Scientist II or III - MaineHealth Institute for Research in
Westbrook,
ME,
...
www.careersatmainehealth.org
September 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Calling implementation scientists! Job alert: www.careersatmainehealth.org/jobs/1676915...
Reposted by Dan Diekema
I'm having this surreal realization that standing up for evidence and data has become a politically polarizing position, and I don't know what to do about that.
September 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I'm having this surreal realization that standing up for evidence and data has become a politically polarizing position, and I don't know what to do about that.
Reposted by Dan Diekema
this is a very sharp piece on why it makes no sense to run universities as if they are businesses. They're not businesses.
www.afr.com/work-and-car...
www.afr.com/work-and-car...
September 22, 2025 at 7:09 AM
this is a very sharp piece on why it makes no sense to run universities as if they are businesses. They're not businesses.
www.afr.com/work-and-car...
www.afr.com/work-and-car...
Reposted by Dan Diekema
STAT digging into HAIs, NHSN reporting, and avoidance
Great piece on the debacle of penalties driving undertesting and underreporting
Brings me back to my days as an IP, knowing that CDC NHSN manual like the back of my hand #IDSky
via @tarabannow.bsky.social ⤵️
www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/h...
Great piece on the debacle of penalties driving undertesting and underreporting
Brings me back to my days as an IP, knowing that CDC NHSN manual like the back of my hand #IDSky
via @tarabannow.bsky.social ⤵️
www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/h...
Hospitals get dinged for reporting too many infections. In some cases, the solution is not to test
A STAT Investigation: To avoid fines for reporting excessive hospital-acquired infections, some facilities are discouraging testing.
www.statnews.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
STAT digging into HAIs, NHSN reporting, and avoidance
Great piece on the debacle of penalties driving undertesting and underreporting
Brings me back to my days as an IP, knowing that CDC NHSN manual like the back of my hand #IDSky
via @tarabannow.bsky.social ⤵️
www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/h...
Great piece on the debacle of penalties driving undertesting and underreporting
Brings me back to my days as an IP, knowing that CDC NHSN manual like the back of my hand #IDSky
via @tarabannow.bsky.social ⤵️
www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/h...
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Secretary Kennedy presents a clear and present danger to the American people and their families. This week, even more of our colleagues in the fields of medicine, public health and patient advocacy join us in calling for his resignation.
Our full statement: https://bit.ly/42zItEV
Our full statement: https://bit.ly/42zItEV
September 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Secretary Kennedy presents a clear and present danger to the American people and their families. This week, even more of our colleagues in the fields of medicine, public health and patient advocacy join us in calling for his resignation.
Our full statement: https://bit.ly/42zItEV
Our full statement: https://bit.ly/42zItEV
Reposted by Dan Diekema
David Rose, the police officer and Afghanistan veteran with a wife and 2 small children, was murdered by a white, right wing extremist man a month ago over antivaccine conspiracies pushed by RFK Jr. and this administration. He did not get recognition from political leaders or even much news coverage
"My thoughts turned to David Rose, who volunteered to try to prevent another such attack on our country, and then, when back home, ran toward danger once again to help his fellow Americans."
www.thebulwark.com/p/a-hero-dav...
www.thebulwark.com/p/a-hero-dav...
A Hero We Didn’t Deserve
Remembering David Rose who ran towards danger.
www.thebulwark.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:37 AM
David Rose, the police officer and Afghanistan veteran with a wife and 2 small children, was murdered by a white, right wing extremist man a month ago over antivaccine conspiracies pushed by RFK Jr. and this administration. He did not get recognition from political leaders or even much news coverage
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Dutch late night TV has its take
September 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Dutch late night TV has its take
Reposted by Dan Diekema
The chair of the #ACIP is a #COVID-contrarian, Martin Kulldorff, as are others on the committee (i.e., Robert Malone). COVID-contrarians also have hands on the lever of vaccine policy at #FDA (i.e., Vinay Prasad, Tracy Beth Hoeg), at #NIH (i.e., Jay Bhattacharya). 1/
September 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The chair of the #ACIP is a #COVID-contrarian, Martin Kulldorff, as are others on the committee (i.e., Robert Malone). COVID-contrarians also have hands on the lever of vaccine policy at #FDA (i.e., Vinay Prasad, Tracy Beth Hoeg), at #NIH (i.e., Jay Bhattacharya). 1/
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Special thanks to the @CDC scientists for great presentations, excellent scientific reviews, and enormous patience in the face of an enormously challenging and upsetting day at what used to be the ACIP
September 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Special thanks to the @CDC scientists for great presentations, excellent scientific reviews, and enormous patience in the face of an enormously challenging and upsetting day at what used to be the ACIP
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Stated at ACIP: MMRV isn’t acceptable for kids <4 to prevent measles, mumps, rubella & varicella.
❌ False. MMRV/MMR vaccines are safe & highly effective. Studies show only a very small increase in febrile seizure risk after the 1st dose.
❌ False. MMRV/MMR vaccines are safe & highly effective. Studies show only a very small increase in febrile seizure risk after the 1st dose.
September 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Stated at ACIP: MMRV isn’t acceptable for kids <4 to prevent measles, mumps, rubella & varicella.
❌ False. MMRV/MMR vaccines are safe & highly effective. Studies show only a very small increase in febrile seizure risk after the 1st dose.
❌ False. MMRV/MMR vaccines are safe & highly effective. Studies show only a very small increase in febrile seizure risk after the 1st dose.
Reposted by Dan Diekema
"America’s entire power structure has been taken over by the very same sort of dumbasses who have been yelling at all of us on the internet for years." www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/getting-ye...
Getting Yelled at By Dumbasses
The defining experience of fascism.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
September 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
"America’s entire power structure has been taken over by the very same sort of dumbasses who have been yelling at all of us on the internet for years." www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/getting-ye...
Reposted by Dan Diekema
Read ASHE's conversation with SHEA's Executive Director Kristy Weinshel about the behind-the-scenes work at SHEA and leading by “The Golden Rule.”
🔗: bit.ly/3KgIZRS
🔗: bit.ly/3KgIZRS
September 11, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Read ASHE's conversation with SHEA's Executive Director Kristy Weinshel about the behind-the-scenes work at SHEA and leading by “The Golden Rule.”
🔗: bit.ly/3KgIZRS
🔗: bit.ly/3KgIZRS
Reposted by Dan Diekema
@mirandayaver.bsky.social and I have an op-ed out today in The Hill on why cutting AHRQ is a dangerous move.
From its work in patient safety and HAIs to funding research grants and to its support of the USPSTF - AHRQ has repeatedly shown its value
thehill.com/opinion/heal...
From its work in patient safety and HAIs to funding research grants and to its support of the USPSTF - AHRQ has repeatedly shown its value
thehill.com/opinion/heal...
thehill.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
@mirandayaver.bsky.social and I have an op-ed out today in The Hill on why cutting AHRQ is a dangerous move.
From its work in patient safety and HAIs to funding research grants and to its support of the USPSTF - AHRQ has repeatedly shown its value
thehill.com/opinion/heal...
From its work in patient safety and HAIs to funding research grants and to its support of the USPSTF - AHRQ has repeatedly shown its value
thehill.com/opinion/heal...