Influential Health Leader Dr. Michael Osterholm to Address 'Public Health in Crisis' at Roslien Distinguished Lecture

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Dr. Michael Osterholm, recently named one of the world's most influential leaders in health by Time magazine, will speak about global public health concerns and potential solutions at Luther College's Dr. David J. Roslien Distinguished Lecture in Science and Leadership. The lecture, titled "Public Health in Crisis: What This Means to You," is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall on the Luther College campus. The event is free and open to the public. This year's lecture will take the form of a conversational fireside chat, with Osterholm responding to questions from Dr. Mark Larson, medical director of Mayo Clinic Care Network. Larson, a 1978 Luther graduate, also serves on the Luther College Board of Regents alongside Osterholm. "In the past year, we have seen significant changes to public health leadership and policies, and this lecture will deliver a powerful and precise analysis of how these changes are already shaping our lives," said Andy Hageman, director of the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement and a professor of English. "Dr. Osterholm is uniquely positioned to shed light on multiple aspects of public health changes, from government agency approaches to scientific research to vaccine attitudes, policies and trends." A 1975 Luther graduate, Osterholm holds multiple roles at the University of Minnesota, including regents professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. He also serves as a distinguished teaching professor in the School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute and an adjunct professor in the medical school. In 2025, Osterholm and colleagues founded the Vaccine Integrity Project, an initiative focused on safeguarding vaccine use in the United States. He is the author of three books and is expected to discuss findings from his 2025 book, "The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics." "If you want to get a revered insider perspective on what is happening in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and why it matters to you and your family, community and country, you won't want to miss this lecture," Hageman said. The lecture will also be livestreamed on Luther College's YouTube channel. The Roslien Distinguished Lecture series brings internationally recognized speakers who have shaped society through science or leadership to Luther College. Past speakers include climate scientist James Hansen, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. Luther College, located in Decorah, offers academic programs and experiential learning opportunities designed to prepare students for leadership and service. Your inbox, upgraded! Subscribe for free and enjoy handpicked stories, helpful advice, and local insights delivered weekly.