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Dr. Caitlin Rivers’ New Book Crisis Averted Explores Public Health Lessons and Provides Insights for Future Pandemic Preparedness

Center News

Published

October 8, 2024 – The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is proud to announce the release of Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks, the debut book by Senior Scholar Caitlin Rivers, PhD. Published today by Viking, the book explores the science and stories behind managing public health crises. 

Described by the Wall Street Journal as an "ambitious and successful attempt to reset our relationship with the field of public health," Crisis Averted highlights the often-invisible work of epidemiologists, from controlling outbreaks to supporting community resilience. 

"This book captures critical lessons we’ve learned from recent health emergencies and offers a strategic roadmap to prevent the next global crisis," said Dr. Rivers. "I hope it serves as a candid look at how we make progress in public health--and what set us back."

Drawing on her extensive experience, Dr. Rivers examines the successes and challenges of modern epidemiology, offering practical insights for improving crisis prevention and response for public health professionals, policymakers, and the public. 

“This book is an invaluable contribution to public health,” said Tom Inglesby, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “Dr. Rivers has chronicled the responses to major outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, with remarkable clarity and has written Crisis Averted in a way that is accessible to all audiences—whether you're a seasoned expert or just beginning to understand the complexities of health security.”   

  • Read Dr. Rivers' guest essay in The New York Times, adapted from her book.  

  • Learn more about the book here.

For more information on Crisis Averted and to arrange speaking opportunities, please contact Sara Delozier at Penguin Random House: sdelozier@penguinrandomhouse.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact Cagla Giray (cgiray1@jhu.edu) and Athena White (awhite33@jhu.edu).