William Schaffner Recognized for Excellence in Vaccine Communication

William Schaffner, MD, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), has been named the 2017 National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) UpShot Award winner for excellence in vaccine communication.

NVPO recognized Schaffner for his tireless commitment to harnessing the power of collaboration and innovation to provide clear, actionable, evidence-based information about vaccines to healthcare professionals, the media and parents across the nation.

“Congratulations to Dr. Schaffner for receiving this well-deserved honor,” said Marla Dalton, CAE, NFID executive director and CEO. “During these times of uncertainty, with misinformation being widely shared across the internet and social media, the importance of being a sustained and passionate communicator to both healthcare professionals and the public becomes more evident than ever. Dr. Schaffner is consistently the voice of reason in ongoing public debates regarding vaccine skepticism and remains dedicated to promoting sound science on the importance and safety of vaccines.”

As NFID medical director, Schaffner works tirelessly to advance the NFID mission of educating healthcare professionals and the public about the causes, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases across the lifespan. As a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, he has mentored generations of vaccine advocates who now share his passion for communicating about important public health issues, with a focus on vaccines.

Schaffner is also a “go to” source for health and science reporters for both professional and consumer outlets. He is frequently called upon to provide scientific advice and perspective about emerging infectious disease issues in language that speaks directly to those who need the information most. Reporters routinely describe Schaffner as one of the top medical communicators. Among his many skills is the consistent ability to filter through seemingly disparate needs and views to find common ground among stakeholders.

Source: National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)