Luther College alumni Dr. Michael Osterholm (‘75) hosted a book signing in the campus book shop Friday, October 3 for his latest publication “The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics.” 

As the book description states, “Founding Director for the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker examine past pandemics, highlighting the ways societies both succeeded and failed to address them; trace the Covid-19 pandemic and evaluate how it was handled; and look to the future, projecting what the next pandemics might look like and what must be done to mitigate them… The Big One is a gripping, comprehensive, and urgent wake-up call. Because Covid-19 was just a taste of what’s to come. If we’re going to survive the next big pandemic, we need to be prepared.”

The line for autographs from the author at times stretched out of the book shop and past Nordic Brew on Friday afternoon as Osterholm made conversation and connections with alumni and fans alike. 

Michael Osterholm holds many titles: internationally renowned epidemiologist, Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota School for Public Health, critically acclaimed author, published commentator in the New York Times, a member of former President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 Advisory Board, advisor to globally recognized health organizations and kings and the acceptor to awards and honorary degrees. He is also a Luther College alumni and a member of the Board of Regents.

But perhaps most significant are the titles of father and grandfather. When asked of his greatest achievements, Osterholm said, “My kids. And second, my grandkids.” 

He went on to describe an electronic picture frame that sits on his desk that rotates through pictures of his family. 

“I can be in the most boring meetings, doing whatever, and I never forget what my focus is, why I do what I do,” he said.

This sense of compassion and community is a common thread in Osterholm’s legacy. Whether in his work within the Luther College community during his time as an undergraduate student, or eventually as a prominent voice in epidemiology on the world stage, “It was all about community,” he said.  

Osterholm said a teacher once told him that he was not cut out for college. It was Luther College, and Dr. David Rosen, that made the continuation of his education a possibility. 

“Luther College made all the difference in the world.”

In response to a question about how Luther College impacted his career, he said, “Luther shaped me a lot. I ended up having a double major in biology and political science… and it was the approach of both of those disciplines that gave me a better sense of what I could do.” 

Osterholm also spoke of his involvement with the discovery and study of the Decorah Ice Caves system during his time as an undergraduate student. Luther College professor emeritus George E. Knudson and James Hedges authored an academic journal article in 1973 detailing the historical and meteorological significance of these findings in the Ice Cave State Preserve. 

“I was very involved with diving into these caves that opened up, the cold water caves. I did a lot of research with Dr. Rosen.”

He continued his engagement in scientific research. “I was involved in a National Science Foundation study for two years… very much involved in the community on water safety and well quality,” he said.

His legacy of community-minded research is evident in his work in epidemiology and his current position as a Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota.

Osterholm also spoke of his experiences with Luther College alumni as a professor, saying, “I have had five Luther College students as PhD students in my center and I go for them because they’re so well-rounded in their education.”

He imparted advice for current undergraduate students at Luther College, “We are in a very different place in this country right now,” he said, “We need the students of today to quickly become the leaders of tomorrow.”

Dr. Michael Osterholm’s The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics is available for purchase online and in the Luther College book shop.