I'm grateful to be creating a more just, livable world alongside all of you.

There's no question that the work ahead is challenging, particularly at a time when global momentum on many fronts is unraveling. I'm reminded of these words from Willow Defebaugh, one of my favorite authors: "The incline [has gotten] steeper, but the work continues."

I am especially thankful to the extraordinary partners across so many different sectors who make this work possible every day. Your expertise, persistence, and commitment are what turn the idea of prevention into real progress.

As Executive Director of PPATS, I am deeply grateful to be advancing our ambitious vision to stop pandemics before they start through a holistic approach. The progress highlighted in this report reflects what's possible when science, policy, and partnership come together.

A huge honor for me to share the @preventingpand.bsky.social Impact Report for 2025.

Contributor: Factory farming of fish is brewing pathogens Aquaculture is critical for feeding a hungry planet, but it does not need to be as reckless as it is today.

Could our seafood system be breeding drug-resistant bacteria? In the @latimes.com, I explore how antimicrobial misuse in aquaculture is increasing the risk of superbugs.

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

The Arrogant Ape by Christine Webb: 9780593543139 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books A New York Times’s Notable Book of 2025 An impassioned celebration of humility before the living world that leads us to a new understanding of other species—and ourselves Darwin considered...

Well done, @christinewebb.bsky.social, on this masterpiece. The anecdote about the monkey in the sterile lab that just wanted a back scratch broke my heart, among many others. (And thanks to my colleague Karen Alroy for the nudge on this one!)

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717436...

The Arrogant Ape by Christine Webb: 9780593543139 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books A New York Times’s Notable Book of 2025 An impassioned celebration of humility before the living world that leads us to a new understanding of other species—and ourselves Darwin considered...

Wow! I just finished The Arrogant Ape and am just floored by this book. What an incredible synthesis of science, philosophy, Indigenous knowledge, and lived experience to challenge the orthodoxy that humans are an exceptional species above all others.

Please do share your book recs for me! Thank you!

These are undeniably serious issues, but despite (or maybe because of) spending so much time with these books, I’m heading into 2026 feeling more hopeful than ever. Many of these authors reminded me just how much possibility, resilience, and creativity still exist in the world.

As you can tell, I spent a lot of time this year thinking about the converging catastrophic threats we face from biodiversity loss, climate change, democratic backsliding, and the rise of disinformation.

10. "The Technological Republic" by Alex Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska. I strongly disagree with many of the authors' arguments, but I think it's an important read to gain insight into how some tech entrepreneurs see the world. (Also worth reading Michael Eby's critique of the book in The Nation).

9. “You Can’t Be Serious” by Kal Penn. This was such a fun and refreshing memoir. His journey of defying expectations is a reminder to chase your own path. Another one to do as an audiobook.

8. “Everything Is Tuberculosis” by @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social. As a practicing TB doctor, I’ve seen the devastation of this disease firsthand. This book’s wide-angle view of TB’s sweeping impact was incredibly informative.

7. “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” by @michaelemann.bsky.social and @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social. A timely read on how science is threatened by five intertwined forces. It underscores what’s at stake when facts are attacked.

6. “Fascism: A Warning” by Madeleine Albright. A sobering, essential reminder that democracy requires effort, and how quickly it can erode if we’re not vigilant.

5. “How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future” by @mariaressa.bsky.social. Ressa’s courage in the face of democratic decline is nothing short of inspiring. A powerful reminder of what individual bravery can achieve.

4. “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times” by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. Hearing Jane Goodall’s wisdom and optimism (particularly poignant after her recent passing) was balm for my soul. Also best done as an audiobook.

3. “Not the End of the World” by @hannahritchie.bsky.social. A compelling demonstration of how data can tell a surprising, counterintuitive, and ultimately optimistic story.

2. “What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures” by @ayanaeliza.bsky.social. An inspiring and hopeful take on the future, even on a warming planet. I especially recommend this one as an audiobook.

1. “Forest Euphoria” by Patricia Kaishian. A masterpiece. If you loved Braiding Sweetgrass, this is a must read for you. A beautiful exploration of nature, our connection to it, and so much more.

I made an effort this year to read more books. Below are the ten that stood out most of the 36 I read (or listened to).

Grateful to the team (Latiffah Hassan, Robyn Alders, Sarah Cleveland, Dirk Pfeiffer, Christian Walzer, Raina Plowright) for all the knowledge they continually share with me.

www.thelancet.com/action/showP...

Building a healthier future means valuing and funding the expertise of veterinarians who protect the health of animals, ecosystems, and ultimately all of us.

Without strong and well‑resourced veterinary services, we will continue to miss opportunities to prevent the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. We will also jeopardize global food security and livelihoods.

Honored to share a new Comment just published in Lancet Planetary Health led by Latiffah Hassan. Our message is simple: the world must invest far more in the global veterinary workforce. I say this as a physician who has seen how human health is inseparable from the health of other animals.

Indeed, lots for me to be thankful for.

These remarkable individuals inspire me every day with their unwavering commitment to building a future where all beings—human and beyond—can thrive.

I had the incredible fortune of attending the gala, but it is more accurately a reflection of the incredible colleagues and mentors I have from decades of training and work.

A heartfelt thank you to my dear friend Timothy Westbrook for transforming that sari into another work of art, to Saadia Van Winkle for making this honor possible, and to my partner Jill for everything she is.