Vaccine Expert Dr. Peter Hotez to Keynote Chamber Virtual Event

An internationally recognized expert on viruses and vaccines will be the keynote speaker for the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2020 Health Care Council Virtual Annual Meeting and Awards Event, which will be conducted online in August.

Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., is director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he is also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine. A Connecticut native, Dr. Hotez regularly provides expert commentary and analysis on Fox News, CNN, and other major television networks, and has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other major news organizations.

He will serve as keynote speaker for the virtual event, set for Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, from 8:30-10 a.m. The event will include the 16th annual meeting of the Chamber’s Health Care Council, while marking the 15th year the Council will present its annual awards recognizing business professionals who demonstrate advocacy, organizational excellence, leadership and selflessness throughout the health care community.

Recipients of the four awards – Leadership Award, Unsung Hero Award, Award for Organizational Excellence, and the Stephen Sasala Health Advocate Award – will be announced later this month. Nominations are being accepted from Chamber members through June 12 and may be submitted via the Chamber website, www.waterburychamber.com.

Known worldwide for his fight against the anti-vaccine movement, Dr. Hotez is the author of “Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism,” which tells the story of raising his now adult daughter and explains in detail why vaccines cannot cause autism. He obtained his undergraduate degree in molecular biophysics from Yale University in 1980 (graduating phi beta kappa), followed by a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rockefeller University in 1986 and an M.D. from Weil Cornell Medical College in 1987.

The Waterbury Regional Chamber is one of Connecticut’s largest, with nearly 1,000 business members in Greater Waterbury. The Chamber and its Health Care Council create the semi-annual “HealthMatters” supplement produced in cooperation with the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury.

Platinum sponsors for the event are Saint Mary’s Hospital and The Perfect Promotion; Gold sponsor is Waterbury Hospital and Naugatuck Valley Radiology. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information on sponsorships or to register for the event, call 203-757-0701 or visit www.waterburychamber.com.