Living to Grow Up – How Childhood Death Became “Unnatural”
A Virtual Presentation on Monday, February 2, 2026, 7:00pm
with
Perri Klass, MD, Professor of Journalism and Pediatrics, New York University
Before the 20th Century, 30-50% of children died before their 5th birthday, mostly from infectious diseases. Parents dreaded but expected this. Thanks to public health interventions, including vaccines and sanitation, this is no longer the case.
Dr. Klass is Professor of Journalism and Pediatrics at New York University, where she directs the medical humanities minor. Her most recent book, The Best Medicine: How Science and Public Health Gave Children a Future, is an account of how changes in infant and child mortality have affected society, pediatrics, and parenting. She also serves as the National Medical Director of Reach Out and Read which distributes books to children in pediatric practices.
This free presentation is sponsored by the Northeast Branch, American Society for Microbiology and the Public Health Museum.
This continuing medical laboratory education activity is recognized by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists as meeting the criteria for 1 CMLE credit.
To register please click here