UC San Diego Physician-Scientist to Lead New Lancet Commission on U.S. Societal Resilience in a Global Pandemic Age
UC San Diego’s Dr. Robert “Chip” Schooley, a respected infectious disease expert at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, has been appointed as one of the commissioners on the newly formed Lancet Commission on U.S. Societal Resilience in a Global Pandemic Age. This high-profile initiative, chaired by Dr. Eliah Aronoff-Spencer, aims to develop long-term strategies to strengthen U.S. communities against global challenges such as pandemics and climate change.
Although not a chair or co-chair, Chip Schooley’s inclusion as a commissioner underscores his critical role as a scientific and public health authority. With his decades of experience managing global infectious diseases and health crises—including leadership in HIV and COVID-19 response—Schooley contributes deep expertise in virology, health systems, and public health resilience.
He is part of a diverse, interdisciplinary team that includes leaders from medicine, environmental science, technology, and public policy. The commission will follow a phased approach—community building, fact-finding, and speculative design—to produce future-focused policy recommendations that promote health security and social resilience.
Schooley’s presence signals UC San Diego’s leadership in shaping national and global health preparedness strategies.