Neal Baer, MD, Provides Philanthropic Support to AAAS-Diverse Voices in Science Journalism Internship
As a proud AAAS Mass Media Fellow alum, Neal Baer, MD, is grateful for the influence his fellowship experience had in shaping his extraordinary career as an award-winning showrunner, television writer/producer, physician, author, and a public health advocate and expert.
Selected for the 1983 fellowship program, Dr. Baer was placed in the newsroom at WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio where he covered a wide variety of subjects and topics that spanned the intersection of science and society. With each story, he began to recognize the power of storytelling to educate and inform audiences about issues affecting their health and lifestyle.
Following his internship, Dr. Baer returned to Harvard Medical School for pediatric medicine from 1991 to 1996. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles as a pediatrician and began his work in television by writing and directing an ABC after-school special dealing with sexually transmitted diseases called “Private Affairs.” He then went on to write for “China Beach,” a drama series which aired for four seasons. Soon after, he went on to be an original staff member, writer and producer on the medical television drama “ER,” where he received several Emmy nominations for producing and writing, in addition to a nomination from the Writers Guild of America. He has also served as showrunner for “Designated Survivor,” executive producer and showrunner for “Under the Dome,” “A Gifted Man,” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” where he oversaw all aspects of producing and writing the show.
He is a Lecturer on Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where he created a Post-Graduate Intensive Program, Media, Media, and Health, and is also a Lecturer at Yale’s School of Public Health. He is also a Senior Fellow at USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism.
Dr. Baer has received numerous awards and commendations, including the Valentine Davies Award in 2004 from the Writers Guild of America; the Special Individual Achievement Award from the Media Project; the Leadership Award from NOFAS; the Loop Award from Lupus LA; the Socially Responsible Medicine Award from Physicians for Social Responsibility; the Feminist Majority Foundation Award for promoting global women’s rights on television; and the John P. McGovern Medal from the American Medical Writers Association.
AAAS is very grateful to have Dr. Baer’s support for the Diverse Voices in Science Journalism Internship since 2021.