In the last century, three of the seven deadliest plagues in human history have catalyzed change in the ways societies conceive of medicine, research, and the university. Drawing upon the historical record and contemporary data, we will explore how H1N1 and HIV galvanized community involvement in research and rooted medical training in research universities. Today, the ongoing changes catalyzed by COVID-19 are transforming research universities and creating opportunities to advance solidarity by engaging Catholic Social Teaching.

Chief Education Officer, Denver Health & Professor of Psychiatry at University of Colorado