Before 2020, was there ever a moment we imagined Dr. Fauci on the cover of InStyle? Or as a recurring character on Saturday Night Live? Health experts became a new class of celebrity in 2021, and for good reason. They’ve brought the human truths of this pandemic to the forefront, using their expertise, reputations and often their own personal platforms to bridge the gap between perception and reality—while even managing to have some lighthearted moments along the way.

Andrea Palmer, president of Publicis Health Media, in a recent interview with Medical Marketing & Media for its story, “The COVID-19 Health Media Report Card: The Outtakes.”