History of Jay Bhattacharya in Timeline

Jayanta Bhattacharya is an American professor at Stanford University with expertise in medicine, economics, and health research policy. He directs the Center for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging at Stanford. Bhattacharya's research concentrates on health care economics. In November 2024, he was appointed by then president-elect Donald Trump to head the National Institutes of Health.

1968: Birth in Kolkata, India

Jay Bhattacharya was born in 1968 in Kolkata, India.

1968: Birth

Jayanta Bhattacharya was born in 1968.

1990: Completion of BA and MA at Stanford University

Bhattacharya completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Stanford University in 1990, achieving Phi Beta Kappa membership.

1997: MD from Stanford University School of Medicine

In 1997, Bhattacharya received his Doctor of Medicine from Stanford University School of Medicine.

1998: Economist at RAND Corporation

From 1998 to 2001, Bhattacharya worked as an economist at the RAND Corporation.

2000: PhD in Economics from Stanford

Bhattacharya earned a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences in 2000.

2001: Visiting Assistant Professor at UCLA

Bhattacharya was a visiting assistant professor at the UCLA Department of Economics until 2001.

2006: Research Fellow at Hoover Institution

From 2006 to 2008, Bhattacharya was a research fellow at the Hoover Institution.

March 24, 2020: Wall Street Journal Opinion Piece on COVID-19

On March 24, 2020, Bhattacharya co-authored an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal questioning the effectiveness of shelter-in-place orders and quarantines during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also led a controversial serology study on COVID-19 infections in Santa Clara County, California, which drew criticism for methodological errors and alleged conflicts of interest.

October 2020: Great Barrington Declaration and Advocacy for Focused Protection

In October 2020, Bhattacharya co-authored and advocated for the Great Barrington Declaration, proposing a "focused protection" approach to COVID-19. This strategy aimed to allow young and healthy individuals to return to normal life while protecting the vulnerable, ultimately aiming to achieve herd immunity.

October 2020: WHO Criticism and Meeting with Trump Administration

In October 2020, the World Health Organization criticized the Great Barrington Declaration as unethical. Bhattacharya, along with his co-authors, met with Trump administration officials to discuss the declaration. Bhattacharya expressed his hope for dialogue regarding the benefits and harms of public health interventions.

2020: Co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration

In 2020, Bhattacharya co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, advocating for lifting COVID-19 restrictions on lower-risk groups to achieve herd immunity while protecting vulnerable populations.

March 2021: Criticism of Lockdowns and Testimony in Manitoba

In March 2021, Bhattacharya called COVID-19 lockdowns the "biggest public health mistake" and highlighted the harm caused. In May 2021, he served as an expert witness in a Manitoba court case challenging COVID-19 restrictions, where his views were noted as not being aligned with most experts.

May 2021: Expert Witness Testimony and Opposition to COVID-19 Mandates

In May 2021, Bhattacharya acted as an expert witness in a Canadian lawsuit contesting COVID-19 public health orders. He publicly opposed vaccine passports and mandates while acknowledging the success of vaccines. He also participated in discussions about censorship and the pandemic.

August 2021: Placement on Twitter "Trends Blacklist"

In August 2021, Bhattacharya was placed on a Twitter "Trends Blacklist", coinciding with his tweets supporting the Great Barrington Declaration.

2021: Opposition to COVID-19 Restrictions

In 2021, Bhattacharya opposed lockdowns and mask mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Criticism of Testimony and Role at Brownstone Institute

In 2021, a judge criticized Bhattacharya's testimony in a Tennessee school mask case, questioning his qualifications and oversimplification of study conclusions. He also became a senior scholar at the Brownstone Institute, a think tank opposing COVID-19 measures.

April 2022: Allegations of Censorship and Criticism of California Bill

In April 2022, Bhattacharya reported experiencing racist attacks and death threats, alleging censorship by tech companies and misrepresentation of his views. He criticized a California bill for potentially turning doctors into agents of state public health.

December 2022: Appointment to Florida's Public Health Integrity Committee

In December 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Bhattacharya to the Public Health Integrity Committee, tasked with reviewing federal health agency recommendations.

December 2022: Twitter Files Reveal "Trends Blacklist" Placement

The December 2022 Twitter Files release revealed Bhattacharya's placement on a Twitter "Trends blacklist" in August 2021, potentially suppressing his tweets advocating for the Great Barrington Declaration.