Media Advisory: UB's Disease Detectives to Present, Discuss "Contagion"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health and Health Professions will present a free, public screening of the 2011 thriller, "Contagion," starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon on January 23 at 5 p.m. The hit movie depicts a dangerous pandemic and the public health response.

It will be held in the Screening Room of the UB Center for the Arts on the North Campus. Free pizza and refreshments will be served.

Following the screening, Buffalo's own disease detectives -- epidemiologists -- faculty members of the UB Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, with members of the Erie County Health Department, will discuss the movie in the context of what really happens during pandemic situations.

Newly appointed Erie County Commissioner of Health, Gale Burstein, MD, clinical associate professor of pediatrics at UB and a pediatrician at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, will provide a sneak peek into the role of frontline public health workers during pandemics.

"The idea behind the event is to give people a better sense of what public health workers do, and perhaps encourage some of them to pursue public health as a career," says Jo Freudenheim, PhD, UB Distinguished Professor and Chair of the UB Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.

For media arrangements, please contact Ellen Goldbaum in the UB Office of University Communications at 645-4605 or Dr. Jo Freudenheim at the event.