Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
@dremilyrsmith.bsky.social
Associate Professor @GWPublicHealth. Epidemiologist. #GlobalHealth. I study infection & nutrition in pregnancy. Advocate for evidence. Alumna @HarvardChanSPH @EmoryRollins. Lover of coffee, crosswords, & cooking with friends.
Pinned
🆘 Our work over the past few years has shown that COVID-19 in pregnancy is a serious problem that requires serious public health and medical consideration.
Proud to be one of so very many people who had the chance to learn from Dr. Foege. I admire that he was often leading with a call to action, asking each of us how we can contribute to a healthier world. Rest in peace, Dr. Foege.
Dr. Bill Foege, a giant in public health who helped rid the world of smallpox, has passed away.
Mike Osterholm on Foege’s legacy.
“On behalf of CIDRAP, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and the countless individuals whose lives were saved through his work.”
Mike Osterholm on Foege’s legacy.
“On behalf of CIDRAP, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and the countless individuals whose lives were saved through his work.”
January 26, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Proud to be one of so very many people who had the chance to learn from Dr. Foege. I admire that he was often leading with a call to action, asking each of us how we can contribute to a healthier world. Rest in peace, Dr. Foege.
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
WHO removing Us Flag
January 23, 2026 at 9:45 PM
WHO removing Us Flag
I realize I should articulate a professional opinion about the new dietary guidelines (I will). And also there are even more important things happening in the US right now.
But I have to get this off my chest… IMO the new food pyramid is bad graphic design! It’s both unclear and ugly, right?
But I have to get this off my chest… IMO the new food pyramid is bad graphic design! It’s both unclear and ugly, right?
January 8, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I realize I should articulate a professional opinion about the new dietary guidelines (I will). And also there are even more important things happening in the US right now.
But I have to get this off my chest… IMO the new food pyramid is bad graphic design! It’s both unclear and ugly, right?
But I have to get this off my chest… IMO the new food pyramid is bad graphic design! It’s both unclear and ugly, right?
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
The CDC changed the universal vaccine schedule & no longer recommends
Rotavirus
Hepatitis A & B
Meningitis
Influenza
RSV
I’ve cared for previously healthy kids who died from RSV, influenza and meningitis.
We all are going to be caring for a lot more now.
In our already overflowing hospitals
Rotavirus
Hepatitis A & B
Meningitis
Influenza
RSV
I’ve cared for previously healthy kids who died from RSV, influenza and meningitis.
We all are going to be caring for a lot more now.
In our already overflowing hospitals
January 6, 2026 at 12:02 AM
The CDC changed the universal vaccine schedule & no longer recommends
Rotavirus
Hepatitis A & B
Meningitis
Influenza
RSV
I’ve cared for previously healthy kids who died from RSV, influenza and meningitis.
We all are going to be caring for a lot more now.
In our already overflowing hospitals
Rotavirus
Hepatitis A & B
Meningitis
Influenza
RSV
I’ve cared for previously healthy kids who died from RSV, influenza and meningitis.
We all are going to be caring for a lot more now.
In our already overflowing hospitals
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
RFK Jr's HHS had a press call to announce they were — based on no new data — overhauling the childhood vaccine schedule. Senior officials at HHS answered questions but refused to go on the record, saying we could only attribute the quotes to "officials." www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
U.S. overhauls childhood vaccine schedule, recommends fewer shots
The U.S. no longer broadly recommends vaccines for flu, hepatitis A and B, and RSV. Health officials say the guidance aligns with that of peer countries.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:48 PM
RFK Jr's HHS had a press call to announce they were — based on no new data — overhauling the childhood vaccine schedule. Senior officials at HHS answered questions but refused to go on the record, saying we could only attribute the quotes to "officials." www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
Atlantic: Rotavirus Could Come Roaring Back—Very Soon
By Katherine J. Wu @theatlantic.com
bit.ly/3YWlGAS
By Katherine J. Wu @theatlantic.com
bit.ly/3YWlGAS
Rotavirus Could Come Roaring Back—Very Soon
A leading vaccine expert on what the country’s newly overhauled immunization schedule means for children
bit.ly
January 6, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Atlantic: Rotavirus Could Come Roaring Back—Very Soon
By Katherine J. Wu @theatlantic.com
bit.ly/3YWlGAS
By Katherine J. Wu @theatlantic.com
bit.ly/3YWlGAS
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), run by Oz and his boss, RFK Jr., will no longer require physicians to report vaccination rates.
Instead, they plan to start having doctors report if they’ve discussed “alternative” vaccine schedules.
Instead, they plan to start having doctors report if they’ve discussed “alternative” vaccine schedules.
CMS to stop requiring states to report childhood vaccination levels
www.cidrap.umn.edu
January 4, 2026 at 10:37 PM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), run by Oz and his boss, RFK Jr., will no longer require physicians to report vaccination rates.
Instead, they plan to start having doctors report if they’ve discussed “alternative” vaccine schedules.
Instead, they plan to start having doctors report if they’ve discussed “alternative” vaccine schedules.
Areas with ⬆️ numbers of exemptions to vaccine requirements 🔜 have more disease 🦠
Excellent piece by @sarahd1.bsky.social on costs of “medical freedom”
“No state has ever completely eliminated vaccine requirements…
Policymakers… can look to research that has shown that areas with greater numbers of exemptions to vaccine requirements do see more disease.”
“No state has ever completely eliminated vaccine requirements…
Policymakers… can look to research that has shown that areas with greater numbers of exemptions to vaccine requirements do see more disease.”
4 questions to understand the costs of ‘medical freedom’
The choice that one person makes not to vaccinate has real costs — financial and otherwise — for their neighbors.
www.statnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Areas with ⬆️ numbers of exemptions to vaccine requirements 🔜 have more disease 🦠
Wrapping up the last few bits and bobs for friends and colleagues. T minus six hours until holiday break!
December 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Wrapping up the last few bits and bobs for friends and colleagues. T minus six hours until holiday break!
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
👋 Breastfeeding & infant feeding expert here! All babies need safe, accessible nutrition. Most people already want to breastfeed and 84% start out doing so but can’t realize their goals. What we need are *policies* that make it possible to breastfeed for all who desire to do so and…
RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."
December 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
👋 Breastfeeding & infant feeding expert here! All babies need safe, accessible nutrition. Most people already want to breastfeed and 84% start out doing so but can’t realize their goals. What we need are *policies* that make it possible to breastfeed for all who desire to do so and…
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
A perfect time to reshare a few of these key studies that highlight the importance of universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
In theory, it’s sound to focus on Hepatitis B screening in pregnancy & targeted vaccination
But in practice, pregnant people at elevated risk of Hepatitis B are also at risk of less prenatal care
We can learn from syphilis - we haven’t been able to screen & treat in pregnancy as well as we wish
But in practice, pregnant people at elevated risk of Hepatitis B are also at risk of less prenatal care
We can learn from syphilis - we haven’t been able to screen & treat in pregnancy as well as we wish
CDC: Congenital syphilis cases rose 740% over a decade
There were 3,882 congenital syphilis cases reported by states and Washington, D.C. in 2023 including 252 stillbirths and 27 infant deaths.
publications.aap.org
December 3, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A perfect time to reshare a few of these key studies that highlight the importance of universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
Multistate infant botulism outbreak adds 8 more cases, 23 total
All 23 cases involve hospitalization.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/b...
All 23 cases involve hospitalization.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/b...
November 17, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Multistate infant botulism outbreak adds 8 more cases, 23 total
All 23 cases involve hospitalization.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/b...
All 23 cases involve hospitalization.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/b...
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
🚨Dept. of Education proposes to exclude public health degrees from the “professional degree” category.
That means new public health experts could lose access to key higher ed resources, like loan limits & reimbursement.
A bold strategy to let infectious diseases win! 🦠
aspph.org/department-o...
That means new public health experts could lose access to key higher ed resources, like loan limits & reimbursement.
A bold strategy to let infectious diseases win! 🦠
aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🚨Dept. of Education proposes to exclude public health degrees from the “professional degree” category.
That means new public health experts could lose access to key higher ed resources, like loan limits & reimbursement.
A bold strategy to let infectious diseases win! 🦠
aspph.org/department-o...
That means new public health experts could lose access to key higher ed resources, like loan limits & reimbursement.
A bold strategy to let infectious diseases win! 🦠
aspph.org/department-o...
“So the plan is to have a plan — eventually.” @rollingstone.com with the healthcare and US policy analysis we need.
The Republicans’ so-called health care plans are so secret they won’t share them with members of their own party.
“Mike Johnson, for a month now, cannot give me a single policy idea," Marjorie Taylor Greene said.
🤫 www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
“Mike Johnson, for a month now, cannot give me a single policy idea," Marjorie Taylor Greene said.
🤫 www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
November 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
“So the plan is to have a plan — eventually.” @rollingstone.com with the healthcare and US policy analysis we need.
There are ongoing claims that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use in pregnancy causes autism. Here’s five things you should know 🧵
October 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
There are ongoing claims that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use in pregnancy causes autism. Here’s five things you should know 🧵
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
Nearly 1 in 5 Urinary Tract Infections Linked to Contaminated Meat
New study finds people in underserved neighborhoods face the highest risk of foodborne infections
Primary source study posted in thread
New study finds people in underserved neighborhoods face the highest risk of foodborne infections
Primary source study posted in thread
Nearly 1 in 5 Urinary Tract Infections Linked to Contaminated Meat | Milken Institute School of Public Health | The George Washington University
New study finds people in underserved neighborhoods face the highest risk of foodborne infections
publichealth.gwu.edu
October 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Nearly 1 in 5 Urinary Tract Infections Linked to Contaminated Meat
New study finds people in underserved neighborhoods face the highest risk of foodborne infections
Primary source study posted in thread
New study finds people in underserved neighborhoods face the highest risk of foodborne infections
Primary source study posted in thread
Excellent thread on the paper out this week in Nature suggesting COVID mRNA vaccines may support the immune system in responding to cancer ⬇️
I will try to do a tweetorial about this paper when I have more energy but this is really important data. It looks (tentatively, preliminarily) that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines might significantly enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy (subject to many caveats).
October 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Excellent thread on the paper out this week in Nature suggesting COVID mRNA vaccines may support the immune system in responding to cancer ⬇️
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
1. We ( @jbakcoleman.bsky.social, @cailinmeister.bsky.social, @jevinwest.bsky.social, and I) have a new preprint up on the arXiv.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
There we explore how social media companies and other online information technology firms are able to manipulate scientific research about the effects of their products.
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
New 📄! We inter-compare satellite-based NASA TEMPO column NO2 with ground monitor surface NO2. Correlation is very good; best in the mid-AM and worst in the late-PM. The work highlights when and where satellite data best represents surface air quality. agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
October 21, 2025 at 4:37 PM
New 📄! We inter-compare satellite-based NASA TEMPO column NO2 with ground monitor surface NO2. Correlation is very good; best in the mid-AM and worst in the late-PM. The work highlights when and where satellite data best represents surface air quality. agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
Just another normal HHS week: CDC researchers cannot present work at an annual Infectious Disease conference in (checks notes) Atlanta. As a CDC researcher put it:
“It appears to me that HHS’s goal is to prevent the dissemination of scientific information. It’s insane.”
apnews.com/article/infe...
“It appears to me that HHS’s goal is to prevent the dissemination of scientific information. It’s insane.”
apnews.com/article/infe...
Government shutdown means many CDC experts are skipping a pivotal meeting on infectious disease
An annual conference about infectious diseases is seeing a dramatic attendance decline, in part because Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts can’t participate.
apnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Just another normal HHS week: CDC researchers cannot present work at an annual Infectious Disease conference in (checks notes) Atlanta. As a CDC researcher put it:
“It appears to me that HHS’s goal is to prevent the dissemination of scientific information. It’s insane.”
apnews.com/article/infe...
“It appears to me that HHS’s goal is to prevent the dissemination of scientific information. It’s insane.”
apnews.com/article/infe...
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
Washington, D.C.’s No Kings protest is converging on a rallying point just west of the Capitol building. This was one of several locally-organized feeder marches just before merging with an even bigger crowd on Pennsylvania Avenue 👇
October 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Washington, D.C.’s No Kings protest is converging on a rallying point just west of the Capitol building. This was one of several locally-organized feeder marches just before merging with an even bigger crowd on Pennsylvania Avenue 👇
Reposted by Emily R Smith, ScD, MPH
THIS WEEKEND! Join us for No Kings Day nationwide, across 50 states, in DC and Puerto Rico, and internationally! We're standing up for science and democracy, and in solidarity with fired federal workers.
#standupforscience #nokingsday
#standupforscience #nokingsday
October 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
THIS WEEKEND! Join us for No Kings Day nationwide, across 50 states, in DC and Puerto Rico, and internationally! We're standing up for science and democracy, and in solidarity with fired federal workers.
#standupforscience #nokingsday
#standupforscience #nokingsday
“Genomic analysis identified an Ebola virus with more than 99·5% identity to the lineage that was responsible for the first outbreak in Yambuku in 1976.”
Interesting bit of correspondence in @thelancet.com:
" #Ebola virus in Kasai revives 50-year-old questions on viral latency" www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
" #Ebola virus in Kasai revives 50-year-old questions on viral latency" www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Ebola virus in Kasai revives 50-year-old questions on viral latency
On Sept 4, 2025, DR Congo declared its 16th Ebola virus outbreak. The epicentre of
this outbreak occurred in the Kasai province—the first resurgence in this region since
2008.1 Genomic analysis identi...
www.thelancet.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM
“Genomic analysis identified an Ebola virus with more than 99·5% identity to the lineage that was responsible for the first outbreak in Yambuku in 1976.”