Jay Varma Explained

Jay K. Varma
Education:
Module:
Field:
    Work Institutions:Centers for Disease Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City Office of the Mayor
    Research Field:Epidemiology

    Jay Varma is a physician and epidemiologist[1] who is the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of SIGA Technologies. He previously served as senior advisor for public health[2] [3] and COVID-19 to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.[4] [5]

    In that role, Varma helped lead New York City’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including diagnostic testing, contact tracing,[6] and the phased re-opening of businesses.[7] He was the architect of the NYC plans for public schools during the COVID-19 crisis.[8]

    Early life and education

    Varma graduated magna cum laude with highest honors from Harvard University. Varma completed medical school, internal medicine residency, and his residency at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, where he was chief resident.[9]

    Career

    In 2001, Varma joined the Center for Disease Control’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, working on foodborne diseases. That same year, he led the CDC’s study of an E. coli outbreak at an Ohio county fair, determining the bacteria was spread through sawdust in the air of an Exhibition Hall, the first time scientists connected transmission of E. Coli to a contaminated building.[10]

    While working for the CDC on infectious diseases prevention and control, Varma had postings in Atlanta, Thailand, China, Ethiopia, and New York City. From 2003 to 2008, Varma directed the CDC’s tuberculosis programs and research in Southeast Asia. From 2008 to 2011, he directed the CDC’s International Emerging Infections Program in Beijing, China.[11]

    He became the deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2011.[12] In 2014, he acted as the “incident commander” for Ebola in New York after two people tested positive for the virus.[13] [14] Varma authorized the 21 day quarantine of the fiancée and two of friends of a doctor who fell ill with Ebola after he returned from treating patients in Guinea.[15] That same year he led NYC’s response to an outbreak of measles in more than two dozen people and an outbreak of meningitis among gay and bisexual men.[16] He also managed the city’s response to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease cases in 2014-2015 linked to contaminated cooling towers,[17] which sickened dozens of people and killed four.[18]

    Varma also worked as the Senior Advisor to the Director of Africa CDC, assisting with strategy and execution of the Africa Center for Disease Control’s programs and helping develop the African Union’s continent-wide strategy for COVID-19.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Varma became de Blasio’s senior advisor for public health, after the mayor clashed with NYC Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot.[19] [20] [21] [22] Before Barbot left the department, Varma was described as a “shadow commissioner” for COVID-19 matters.[23]

    In September 2020, Varma was involved in NYC’s opening of a laboratory that prioritized testing for city residents. In December 2020, Varma said New York City was monitoring wastewater and sewers to find COVID-19 clusters before they appear through patient testing.[24]

    After a new variant of COVID-19 called B.1.526 was identified in February 2021 as likely originating in NYC,[25] Varma said preliminary analysis of the variant showed it was likely more infectious, but New Yorkers did not need to take additional precautions.[26]

    Varma was the architect of the NYC plans for the public school system during the COVID-19 crisis, including assessing the risk factors for keeping schools partially opened in January 2021 as citywide positivity rates climbed. In March 2021, the journal Pediatrics published a peer-reviewed study authored by Varma about COVID-19 transmission rates in NYC schools between October and December 2020.[27] The study showed virus transmission rates remained low within in-person classes, with 191 of 36,000 students and staff quarantined after exposure to COVID-19 testing positive for a transmission rate of .5%.[28] A follow-up study during the COVID-19 Delta wave showed that vaccination and other COVID-19 prevention measures continued to keep transmission low; fewer than 1 in 100 people exposed to COVID in school went on to develop active disease.[29]

    After becoming a professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response in September 2021, Varma spoke out critically regarding the decision by the administration of New York Mayor Eric Adams to remove COVID-19 vaccine verification for public facilities,[30] exempting basketball player Kyrie Irving from being vaccinated,[31] [32] and removing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for government and private employers.[33]

    Varma has written articles on a range of public health issues for outlets including the Washington Post,[34] New York Times,[35] [36] [37] and Atlantic.[38] [39] [40] [41]

    Varma joined the Board of Directors for SIGA Technologies in November 2022 and began serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer in September 2023.

    Recognition and awards

    In 2010, Varma was recognized as the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Researcher of the Year. In 2011, he received the Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal, the highest decoration of the Department of Health and Human Services United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. In 2017, he was awarded Physician Leader of the Year. In 2018 he received the Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal.

    Varma serves on the advisory committee to the US CDC director.[42] He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[43]

    Selected works

    Varma has authored 144 scientific manuscripts, 12 essays, and one book.

    Some of his peer-reviewed works include:

    Notes and References

    1. News: Hartocollis . Anemona . Measles Outbreak May Have Spread in Medical Facilities, a New York City Official Says . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 18 March 2014.
    2. News: Kilgannon . Corey . What New York City's Sewers Reveal About the Virus . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 8 December 2020.
    3. News: Siemaszko . Corky . N.Y.C. mayor's reason for closing public schools was 'arbitrary,' adviser says . 4 March 2021 . NBC News . 19 November 2020.
    4. News: Goldstein . Joseph . N.Y.C. Is Opening Its Own Virus Testing Lab to Address Shortages . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 16 September 2020.
    5. News: Szekely . Peter . New York officials downplay concern over new coronavirus variant . 4 March 2021 . Reuters . 25 February 2021.
    6. News: Goodman . J. David . New York Has Tamed the Virus. Can It Hold Off a Second Wave? . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 17 August 2020.
    7. Web site: Jay K. Varma, MD . The Rockefeller Foundation . 4 March 2021.
    8. News: Elsen-Rooney . Michael . Surging community COVID spread tests NYC's efforts to keep schools safe for in-person learning . 7 March 2021 . New York Daily News . 11 January 2021.
    9. Web site: Jay Varma Senior Advisor, Science & Programme . Africa CDC . 4 March 2021.
    10. News: Reichgott . Megan . RESEARCHERS TIE E. COLI OUTBREAK IN 2001 TO CONTAMINATED BUILDING . The Associated Press . St. Louis Post - Dispatch . 26 November 2003.
    11. News: Borchardt . Reuvain . Do Antibodies Equal Immunity? . 4 March 2021 . Hamodia . 24 December 2020.
    12. News: Santora . Marc . As Experts Confront the Hazards of Zika, Fear and Uncertainty Hover . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 1 July 2016.
    13. News: Hartocollis . Anemona . With Persistence and Phone Calls, Defending Against Ebola in New York . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 11 November 2014.
    14. News: Haddon . Heather . Orden . Erica . Dawsey . Josh . New York Ebola Patient Has Gastrointestinal Symptoms . 4 March 2021 . The Wall Street Journal . 25 October 2014.
    15. News: Fink . Sheri . Ebola Crisis Passes, but Questions on Quarantines Persist . 7 March 2021 . The New York Times . 2 December 2015.
    16. News: Hartocollis . Anemona . New York City Reports 3 New Cases of Meningitis . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 5 September 2014.
    17. News: NYC health official expects more Legionnaires' disease cases . 9 March 2021 . The Associated Press . 1 August 2015.
    18. News: Hu . Winnie . Legionnaires' Disease Sickens 31, 2 Fatally, in the South Bronx . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 29 July 2015.
    19. News: Goodman . J. David . N.Y.C. Health Commissioner Resigns After Clashes With Mayor Over Virus . 4 March 2021 . The New York Times . 4 August 2020.
    20. News: Renault . Marion . New coronavirus variant in New York spurs caution, concern . 4 March 2021 . ABC News . Associated Press . ABC News . 25 February 2021.
    21. News: Gartland . Michael . New York City's top public health adviser rules out COVID-19 herd immunity . 4 March 2021 . New York Daily News . 10 July 2020.
    22. News: Tompkins . Al . New COVID-19 variants could be more resistant to vaccines, but let's not jump to conclusions . 4 March 2021 . Poynter Institute . 1 March 2021.
    23. News: Goldenberg . Sally . In the midst of a pandemic, tensions flare between de Blasio and his health department . 13 March 2021 . Politico . 8 May 2020.
    24. News: Kilgannon . Corey . Scientists are monitoring New York's sewers, hoping to identify coronavirus clusters. . 9 March 2021 . The New York Times . 9 December 2020.
    25. News: Pereira . Sydney . City Health Official Says New NYC Variant Is A 'Reminder' To Stay Diligent About COVID Precautions . 9 March 2021 . The Gothamist . 3 March 2021.
    26. News: King . Kate . South Africa Coronavirus Variant Infects Two New York City Residents . 13 March 2021 . The Wall Street Journal . 2 March 2021.
    27. News: Shapiro . Eliza . N.Y.C. public schools saw very low virus transmission as cases in the city spiked, a study says. . 13 March 2021 . The New York Times . 10 March 2021.
    28. News: Elsen-Rooney . Michael . New study of NYC school COVID-19 rates presents 'compelling' evidence of low in-school transmission . 13 March 2021 . New York Daily News . 9 March 2021.
    29. Varma . Jay K. . Feldkamp . Cara . Alexander . Mariana . Norman . Emily . Agerton . Tracy . Davis . Rindcy . Long . Theodore . 2022-05-23 . COVID-19 Transmission Due to Delta Variant in New York City Public Schools From October to December 2021 . JAMA Network Open . 5 . 5 . e2213276 . 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.13276 . 2574-3805. free . 9127551 .
    30. Web site: 2022-03-03 . Keep indoor vax rules, NYC: Why Adams is wrong to drop COVID shot proof for restaurants, museums and more . 2023-09-08 . New York Daily News . en-US.
    31. News: Cohen . Ben . Radnofsky . Louise . 2021-10-13 . The Doctors Who Blocked Kyrie Irving . en-US . Wall Street Journal . 2023-09-08 . 0099-9660.
    32. Web site: Mayor Adams Ends Vax Mandates for Athletes and Performers The Brian Lehrer Show . 2023-09-08 . WNYC Studios . en.
    33. Web site: Former de Blasio health advisor criticizes end of city vaccine mandate . 2023-09-08 . ny1.com . en.
    34. Web site: Varma . Jay K. . 29 September 2022 . Why are so many viruses popping up again? .
    35. News: Varma . Jay K. . 2022-05-23 . Opinion The Answer to Covid Fatigue Is Creativity, Not Surrender . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-09-08 . 0362-4331.
    36. News: Varma . Jay K. . 2022-02-09 . Opinion When Do Masks Come Off? The Hard Truth About Lifting Covid Restrictions. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-09-08 . 0362-4331.
    37. News: Varma . Jay K. . 2021-12-20 . Opinion There’s One City That Can Show Us Our Omicron Future . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-09-08 . 0362-4331.
    38. Web site: Permar . Jay Varma, Sallie . 2022-08-06 . The Problem With Being Too Cautious in Vaccine Trials . 2023-09-08 . The Atlantic . en.
    39. Web site: Varma . Jay . 2022-05-15 . How Public Health Failed America . 2023-09-08 . The Atlantic . en.
    40. Web site: Varma . Jay . 2021-09-21 . Not Every Question Has a Scientific Answer . 2023-09-08 . The Atlantic . en.
    41. Web site: Varma . Jay . 2021-06-13 . The Public-Health Calculus Has Shifted . 2023-09-08 . The Atlantic . en.
    42. Web site: 2023-07-14 . The Laboratory Workgroup About CDC . 2023-09-08 . www.cdc.gov . en-us.
    43. Web site: Jay K. Varma . 2023-09-08 . Council on Foreign Relations . en.

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