Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, or ‘JVT’ as he's arguably better known, first came to widespread public attention in his role as Deputy Chief Medical Officer during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But even before that, Jonathan had built an impressive career based on a long-held fascination with respiratory illness and infectious diseases. He’s worked across the public and private sectors, contributing significantly to improving our understanding of influenza and treatments to address such viruses.
It’s hard to believe that back in his teens, JVT – the man who advised the nation on pandemic precautions and helped make the UK’s vaccine roll-out possible – nearly didn’t get the grades he needed to go to medical school. But early challenges aside, Jonathan went on to discover a love for both medical research and public speaking: making complex public health messages easier to digest – not least by using analogies relating to his beloved football.
Speaking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili in the first episode of a new series of The Life Scientific, Jonathan discusses his life and career: from academic emphasis in childhood and imposter syndrome at medical school, to pandemic pressures around Covid-19 and big birthday celebrations.
Produced by Lucy Taylor.
Giles Yeo on how our genes can make us fat
Cath Noakes on making buildings Covid-safe
Chris Jackson on sustainable geology
Scientists in the Spotlight during the Pandemic
Neil Ferguson on modelling Covid-19
Sarah Gilbert on developing a vaccine for Covid-19
Steve Haake on technology, sport and health
Francesca Happé on autism
Heather Koldewey on marine conservation
Dale Sanders on feeding the world
Andy Fabian on black holes
Alice Roberts on bones
Clifford Stott on riot prevention
Emma Bunce on the gas giants
Jane Goodall on living with wild chimpanzees
Liz Seward and the dream of spaceflight
Frank Kelly on air pollution
Debbie Pain on conserving globally threatened bird species
Jim McDonald on power networks
Brian Greene on how the universe is made of string
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins