‘The Truth About Getting Sick in America’

Timothy Johnson, one of the nation’s leading communicators of medical healthcare information, will deliver this year’s Lowell Lecture May 4, “The Truth About Getting Sick in America: The Real Problems with Healthcare and What We Can Do.” The lecture explores the thorny issue of health care in the United States, and is based on Johnson’s recently released book of the same title.

Drawing on his 35 years of experience as medical editor for ABC News, Johnson offers his analysis and recommendations for how to deal with the present health care crisis in America. He approaches the question of health care reform as a scientist using numbers, rather than as a politician trying to sway voters.

At ABC News, Johnson provided on-air medical analysis for World News, Nightline, and 20/20, and has provided commentary on medical problems and answers for viewers of ABC News’ Good Morning America since the program’s debut in 1975.

Locally, his HealthBeat reports for WCVB’s NewsCenter 5, where he is medical editor, address topics ranging from disease prevention to the latest medical research. He is the founding editor of the Harvard Medical School Health Letter and co-editor of the Harvard Medical School Health Letter Book. He has had appointments at both Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Lowell Lecture is co-sponsored by the Harvard Extension School and the Lowell Institute of Boston. It takes place Wednesday (May 4) at 8 p.m. in Lowell Lecture Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.