Dr. Steven Phillips was invited to take part in a national Lyme disease roundtable convened and moderated by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The historic gathering took place in Washington, DC on December 15, 2025. It brought together clinicians and researchers to confront the diagnostic and clinical challenges of Lyme and other vector-borne illness, and marked a milestone in federal recognition of Lyme disease as a serious public-health priority.
An internationally recognized expert in chronic illness and co-author of Chronic, Dr. Phillips joined a distinguished group of federal leaders and experts, including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD. At the roundtable, HHS announced the renewal of the LymeX Innovation Accelerator — a public-private partnership with the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation — including a $10 million initiative to advance AI-driven diagnostic tools for earlier, more accurate detection of Lyme disease.
Dr. Phillips was honored to contribute his clinical experience to this landmark national effort, and remains dedicated to ensuring patients with Lyme and other vector-borne illnesses receive the recognition, research, and care they deserve.