The Dean Halverson Lecture Series has announced Dr. Jerome Adams, former surgeon general and Indiana state health commissioner, as the inaugural speaker.
On September 27, Adams will share insights from his career in public health and his time as surgeon general of the United States during the coronavirus pandemic.
“During the pandemic, Dr. Adams had the tough task of trying to help the public and policy makers understand science,” said Paul Halverson, founding dean of the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and founder of the lecture series. “In a time when people saw science in action, he had to keep the country updated on new and everchanging information. Opportunities like this, in which our students can learn from national health leaders, extend learning beyond the classroom.”
As surgeon general, Adams was responsible for communicating scientific information to the public on how to improve personal and public health. He served on the White House Coronavirus Task Force and also oversaw the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, composed of over 6,000 uniformed health officers.
During his time as the Indiana state health commissioner, Adams led the state’s response to a widespread HIV crisis and led the legalization of syringe service programs in the state. He also worked to increase funding for infant mortality, an indicator of health status around the world.
Adams was the 20th U.S. surgeon general from 2017 to 2021 and the former Indiana state health commissioner from 2014 to 2017. He currently serves as a presidential fellow and executive director of Purdue’s Health Equity Initiatives and is a distinguished professor of practice at Purdue University.
Join Adams for the Dean Paul Halverson Lectureship Series on September 27, 2023, at 6 p.m., in Walther Hall Auditorium at 980 W. Walnut St, Indianapolis, IN 46202.
The Dean Halverson Lecture Series is a forum for prominent health leaders to share their expertise on topical issues in the fields of health care and public health.