Session VIII: A Public Health Briefing on New COVID-19 Variants and Leadership Essentials: Managing Difficult Conversations

Overview

Dr. Josh Sharfstein, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Andrew Pekosz, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, presented public health guidance on new COVID-19 variants and how mayors can communicate key messages and recommendations to their constituents. Robert Wilkinson, Lecturer in Public Policy and Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, facilitated a discussion on managing difficult conversations more skillfully and productively in today’s environment. Rawi Abdelal, the faculty co-chair of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, moderated the discussion.