Timothy Rebbeck, Vincent L. Gregory Professor of Cancer Prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shared on LinkedIn:
“Science just got a stronger voice in Washington.
The New York Times reports that scientists and doctors were elected to Congress this week. Some of them:
- Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan, Senate): An epidemiologist who will bring public health expertise to the Senate.
- Annie Andrews (South Carolina, Senate): A pediatrician who flipped the seat in a major upset.
- Jasmine Clark (Georgia, House): A microbiologist and the first Black woman with a science PhD elected to Congress.
- Daniel Biss (Illinois, House): A PhD mathematician and former University of Chicago professor.
- Amy Acton (Ohio, Governor): A physician who led Ohio’s health department during the pandemic.
A historic first: El-Sayed and Andrews will be the first Democrats with medical degrees in the Senate since 1969.
This is hopeful, but it’s only a start. Research funding, vaccine access and public trust in evidence are all under pressure right now.
These new lawmakers will need scientists, clinicians and voters to keep backing them.
Evidence belongs in policy, and we can’t wait to put it there.
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