Dear Donald J. Trump for President Campaign,

As physicians committed to the health and safety of our patients and our communities, we call on Vice President Mike Pence to cancel all his campaign rallies because we are concerned that these events needlessly expose people to COVID-19 and increase the danger of community spread.

We further believe that, with all due respect to the vice president’s office, Vice President Pence is not an essential worker. Campaign rallies are not essential to the sustenance of life, unlike the many essential workers who support our social, economic, energy, healthcare and other critical infrastructure -- often at great risk to their lives and the safety of their families.

In recent days, we learned that five people in Vice President Pence’s inner circle -- including his chief of staff and other close advisors -- have tested positive for COVD-19. Vice President Pence and his staff have also been in close proximity to President Trump, who contracted COVID-19 earlier in October. While Vice President Pence reports that he tested negative for COVID-19, we are concerned that he is not following safety measures and guidelines the coronavirus task force he leads recommend to minimize COVID-19 infections, notably his continuing refusal to quarantine as public health experts urge for anyone who has been within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more. Additionally, we have begun to see cases of re-infections, including one fatality in the Netherlands.

Just as importantly, we are concerned that Vice President Pence’s rallies pack large crowds of people together at a time when COVID-19 cases are surging, including in communities that will host these rallies. High positive rates and local cases, combined with crowded gatherings and little mask wearing at these Trump-Pence campaign rallies, increase the likelihood of disease transmission and community spread. Already, Vice President Pence’s rallies have violated safety measures designed to maximize social distancing and reduce the risk of infections.

New data shows that we are right to be concerned about large-scale campaign rallies: Of President Trump’s 22 events held between June and September, half led to county-wide increases in COVID-19 cases, suggesting the rallies contributed to community spread.

President Trump and Vice President Pence’s refusal to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines is out of step with not just science and evidence, but the American people as well. Overwhelming majorities of Americans -- including majorities of Republicans and independents -- wear masks when in public. Three in four voters support mandatory mask requirements, with punishments for violations.

With cases rising in communities throughout the nation, we must redouble our efforts to suppress the spread of COVID-19. That means we must wear masks when in public, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings -- and we must implement these measures more rigorously to rein in a third wave of COVID-19 that experts fear could be worse than what we saw in spring and summer.

As the head of the administration’s COVID-19 task force, Vice President Pence’s rallies send a dangerous message. By refusing to take basic safety precautions despite being at the epicenter of outbreaks in the White House, Vice President Pence sets a bad example: If the head of our nation’s COVID-19 efforts doesn’t take his own guidelines seriously, neither should ordinary Americans.

For all these reasons, Vice President Pence should cancel all his rallies and lead by example.

Signed:

Rob Davidson, MD + CTP Executive Director; Emergency Medicine (Spring Lake, MI)

Bernard Ashby, MD + CTP's FL State Lead; Cardiology (Miramar, FL)

Ean Bett, MD + CTP's OH State Lead; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Farhan Bhatti, MD + CTP's MI State Lead; Family Medicine (Lansing, MI)

Max Cooper, MD + CTP's PA State Lead; Emergency Medicine (Nether Providence Township, PA)

Robert Freedland, MD + CTP's WI State Lead; Ophthalmology (La Crosse, WI)

Christine Severance, DO + CTP's AZ State Lead; Family Medicine (Phoenix, AZ)

Adeola Adelayo, MD; Psychiatry (Phoenix, AZ)

Rommaan Ahmad, DO; Psychiatry (Alexandria, VA)

Manohar Ahuja, MD; Nephrology (Brookfield, WI)

David Aizenberg, MD; Internal Medicine (Wynnewood, PA)

James Alexander, MD; Infectious Disease/Internal Medicine (Cary, NC)

Lea Alhilali, MD; Radiology (Phoenix, AZ)

John Alley, Jr., MD; Radiology (Raleigh, NC)

Roma Amin, MD; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Sapna Amin, MD; Pathology (Phoenix, AZ)

Robert Anderson, MD; Radiology (Titusville, FL)

Kathleen Andries, MD; Internal Medicine (Saint Joseph, MI)

Melissa Anglin, MD; Anesthesia (Verona, WI)

Vineet Arora, MD, MAPP; Internal Medicine (Chicago, IL)

Reza Azar, MD; Cardiology (Miami, FL)

David Baez, MD; Internal Medicine (Aurora, CO)

Dorothy Ballard, MD; Pediatrics (Norfolk, VA)

Darrell Ballinger, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Ponte Vedra, FL)

Ankush Bansal, MD; Internal Medicine (West Palm Beach, FL)

Paul Baranko, MD; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Phoenix, AZ)

Summer Barlow, MD; Family Medicine (Asheville, NC)

Alanna Barron, MD; Pediatrics (West Olive, MI)

Laura Barry, MD; Pathology (Philadelphia, PA)

Frances Batzer, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Philadelphia, PA)

Janet Bay, MD; Neurosurgery (Powell, OH)

Philip Bayliss, MD; Maternal Fetal Medicine (York, PA)

Rebecca Beach, MD; Family Medicine (Richland Center, WI)

Jan Becker, MD; Internal Medicine (Orlando, FL)

Charles Benedict, MD; Neurology (Coatesville, PA)

Andre Benson, MD; Addition Medicine (Weeki Wachee, FL)

Eric Berke, MD, PhD; Infectious Disease (Dunedin, FL)

Meenakshi Bewtra, MD, MPH, PhD; Gastroenterology/Epidemiology (Philadelphia, PA)

Jennifer Biber, MD; Critical Care (Cleveland Heights, OH)

Jasbir Bisla, MD; Psychiatry (Peoria, AZ)

Robin Blitz, MD; Developmental Pediatrics (Scottsdale, AZ)

Allan Bloom, MD; Internal Medicine (Lighthouse Point, FL)

Sara Bodner, MD; Psychiatry (Coral Gables, FL)

George Bohmfalk, MD; Neurosurgery (Charlotte, NC)

Paula Bononi, MD; Internal Medicine (Glenside, PA)

Erika Boothman, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Dublin, OH)

Christopher Bradley, MD, PhD; Neurology (Collegeville, PA)

Jeanie Branconi, MD; Family Medicine (Apollo Beach, FL)

Christine Brass, DO; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Gilbert, AZ)

Stephen Brockway, MD; Psychiatry (Cave Creek, AZ)

Andrew Brownridge, MD, JD, MHA; Psychiatry (Orlando, FL)

Eliza Bruscato, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Maitland, FL)

Joseph Budovec, MD; Radiology (Brookfield, WI)

Adam Bullock, MD; Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Alexandria, VA)

Carl Burak, MD; Psychiatry (Atlantic Beach, FL)

Monica Burton, MD; Pediatrics (Philadelphia, PA)

Martha Cabeen, MD; Emergency Medicine (Eagle, CO)

Sarah Carlson, MD; Family Medicine (Mooresville, NC)

Victoria Cassano, MD, MPH; Occupational Medicine (Purcellville, VA)

Karen Chao, MD; Pediatrics (Milwaukee, WI)

Ethan Chapin, MD; Emergency Medicine (Jupiter, FL)

Shamsur Chowdhury, MD; Pediatric Intensivist (Jacksonville, FL)

Kris Chrouser, MD; Urology (Dexter, MI)

Danielle Chu, MD; Pediatrics (Scottsdale, AZ)

Thomas Clafton, MD; Family Medicine (Northville, MI)

Sharon Clark, MD; Internal Medicine - Pediatrics (Columbus, OH)

John Clarkson, MD; Ophthalmology (Charlotte, NC)

Carol Clinton, MD; Emergency Medicine (Dublin, OH)

Melanie Cloonan, MD; Internal Medicine (Phoenix, AZ)

Roger Cohen, MD; Pediatric Surgery (Fox Point, WI)

Stacy Colodny, MD; Anesthesiology (Denver, CO)

Michelle Condon, MD; Internal Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI)

Herbert Cooper, MD; Psychiatry (Lancaster, PA)

Jennifer Cowart, MD; Internal Medicine (Jacksonville, FL)

Cormac Coyle, MD; Internal Medicine (Naples, FL)

Ann Craig, MD; Neurology (Colorado Springs, CO)

Diana DaBell, MD; Emergency Medicine (Peoria, AZ)

Ben Davidson, MD; Family Medicine, Hospital Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI)

Steven Davidson, MD; Emergency Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Georgia Davis, MD; Neuropsychiatry (Melbourne, FL)

Craig Derkay, MD; Otolaryngology (Norfolk, VA)

Rakhee Devasthali, MD; Family Medicine (Durham, NC)

Jennifer de Vries, MD; Pediatric Anesthesiology (Dayton, OH)

Kevin Dieter, MD; Palliative Medicine (Sagamore Hills, OH)

Edwin Dolin, MD; Radiology (Scottsdale, AZ)

Thomas Donnelly, MD; Pulmonary and Critical Care (Dayton, OH)

Keira Duvernoy, DO; Family Medicine (Interlochen, MI)

Alan Edwards, MD; Emergency Medicine (Aurora, OH)

Richard Ellin, MD; Internal Medicine (Dunwoody, GA)

Abdul El-Sayed, MD, DPhil; Epidemiology (Ann Arbor, MI)

Glenn Englander, MD; Gastroenterology (West Palm Beach, FL)

Sara Erickson, MD; Internal Medicine (Kennebunk, ME)

Mohammad Eslami, MD, MPH; Vascular Surgery (Pittsburgh, PA)

Marcus Eubanks, MD; Emergency Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)

Michael Fallert, MD; Cardiology (Pittsburgh, PA)

Barry Farkas, MD, MPH, FAAFP; Family Medicine/Geriatrics (Pittsburgh, PA)

Martin Feit, MD; Cardiology (Venice, FL)

Jason Fields, MD; Addiction Medicine (Tampa, FL)

Karl Fields, MD; Family Medicine (Greensboro, NC)

Denise Finck-Rothman, MD; Family Medicine (Charlotte, NC)

Cindy Finkelman, DO; General Practice (Sellersville, PA)

Jonathan Fliegel, MD; Pediatrics (Madison, WI)

Martin Freifeld, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Dallas, PA)

Sudeep Gaudi, MD; Pathology (Wesley Chapel, FL)

Terrence Gleason, MD; Urology (Lake Havasu City, AZ)

Catherine Go, MD; Vascular Surgery (Pittsburgh, PA)

Robert Goldfarb, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Farmington Hills, MI)

Robert Goldman, MD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Aston, PA)

Kathy Gonzalez, MD; Vascular Surgery (Pittsburgh, PA)

Sandra N. Gonzalez, MD; Anesthesiology (Gainesville, FL)

David Gordon, MD; Radiology (Lake Worth, FL)

Paul Gordon, MD; Family Medicine (Tucson, AZ)

Kenneth Gorelick, MD; Internal Medicine (Newtown Square, PA)

Nanette Grana, MD; Pediatrics (Seminole, FL)

Amparo Gutierrez, MD; Neurology (Orlando, FL)

Mehrnaz Hadian, MD; Critical Care Medicine (West Hollywood, CA)

Eric Hager, MD; Vascular Surgery (Glenshaw, PA)

Ayser Hamoudi, MD; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Richard Harbecke, MD; Pulmonary Medicine (Des Moines, IA)

John Haresch, MD; Family Medicine (Fairfax, VA)

Shami Hariharan, MD; Family Medicine (Charlotte, NC)

Eloise Harman, MD; Pulmonary/Critical Care (Gainesville, FL)

Alexandra Harrington, MD; Pathology (Franklin, WI)

Edwin Hartman, MD; Internal Medicine (Smithfield, NC)

Rebecca Hayes, MD; Family Medicine (Concord, NC)

Lexine Hebets, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Phoenix, AZ)

Roxanne Hecht, MD; Pediatric Gastroenterology (Phoenix, AZ)

Ann Helms, MD; Neurology (Brookfield, WI)

Paula Hendryx, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Cleveland, OH)

Manny Hernandez, MD; Emergency Medicine (Glendale, WI)

Michael Hertz, MD, MOH; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Beulah, MI)

Melissa Hicks, MD; Family Medicine (Asheville, NC)

Gloria Higgins, PhD, MD; Pediatric Rheumatology (Columbus, OH)

Jenny Hinson, MD; Internal Medicine (Albemarle, NC)

Harland Holman, MD; Family Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI)

Yves Homsy, MD; Urology (Tampa, FL)

William Houston, MD; Pediatrics (Ardmore, PA)

Christopher Hughes, MD; Internal Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)

Alan Hull, MD, FACP; Internal Medicine (Highland Heights, OH)

Brian Hunter, MD; Ophthalmology (Tucson, AZ)

Richard Huskey, MD; Geriatric Medicine (Trevorton, PA)

Charles C. Huston, III, MD; General Surgery (Knox, PA)

Neal Jain, MD; Allergy (Phoenix, AZ)

Rajneesh Jain, MD; Pediatrics (Stow, OH)

Joseph Jenkins, MD; Gastroenterology (Fort Collins, CO)

Faiyaaz Jhaveri, MD; Urology (Orlando, FL)

Timothy Johnson, MD; Anesthesiology (Cadillac, MI)

Peirce Johnston, MD; Psychiatry (Cincinatti, OH)

Brenda Jones, MD; Ophthalmology (Mesquite, NV)

Leslee Kelly, MD; Pediatrics (Scottsdale, AZ)

Amir Khan, MD; Hematology/Oncology (Leonardtown, MD)

James Khatcheressian, MD; Oncology (Richmond, VA)

Rosa King, MD; Family Medicine (Ventura, CA)

Elizabeth Kinney, MD; Family Medicine (Alamosa, CO)

Steven Kobetz, MD; Neurology (Miami, FL)

Ravindranath Kolli, MD; Psychiatry (Coraopolis, PA)

Kathryn Kopec, DO; Emergency Medicine (Charlotte, NC)

Jonathan Kotch, MD; Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine (Chapel Hill, NC)

Gary Kramer, MD; Radiology (Johnstown, PA)

Christina Kwasnica, MD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Phoenix, AZ)

Steven Leers, MD; Vascular Surgery (Pittsburgh, PA)

CJ LeGalley, MD; Surgical Critical Care (Southfield, MI)

Ann Lentini, MD; General Practice (Hendersonville, NC)

Orin Levy, MD; Urology (Parkland, FL)

Barry Lewis, DO; Cardiology (West Bloomfield, MI)

Ellen Lewis, MD; Psychiatry (Denver, CO)

Philip Lewis, MD, MPH; Preventive Medicine (Newtown, PA)

Cinda Liggon, MD; Psychiatry (Fayetteville, PA)

Linda Lindsey, MD; Internal Medicine (Gainesville, VA)

Michael Lipnick, MD; Family Medicine (Aurora, CO)

Steven Lipp, MD; Pediatrics (Denver, CO)

Jan Liu, MD, MHS; Family Medicine (Okemos, MI)

Linda Loewenstein, DO; Family Medicine (Minneapolis, MN)

Paul Loewenstein, MD; Plastic Surgery (Milwaukee, WI)

Laura Londra, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Upper Arlington, OH)

Alan Lubin, MD; Hematology (Cleveland, OH)

Cheryl Macy, MD; Emergency Medicine (Scottsdale, AZ)

Al Maher, MD; Internal Medicine (Reno, NV)

Jed Maker, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Beulah, MI)

Raj Makim, MD; Orthopedics (Fort Gratiot, MI)

Mona Mangat, MD; Allergy/Immunology (Saint Petersburg, FL)

Robert Margolis, MD; Pulmonology (New Albany, OH)

Laurel Mark, MD; Internal Medicine (Madison, WI)

Linda Marraccini, MD; Family Medicine (Miami, FL)

Carolyn McClanahan, MD; Family Medicine (Jacksonville, FL)

Alice McCormick, DO; Internal Medicine (Phoenix, AZ)

Steven McCornack, DO, MHSA; Anesthesia (Dayton, OH)

Ann McDonald, MD; Psychiatry (Swiftwater, PA)

Heidi McNaney-Flint, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Stuart, FL)

Jay Mead, MD; Pathology (Boulder City, NV)

Dipti Mehta, MD; Hospital Medicine (Palm Harbor, FL)

Allegra Melillo, MD; Family Medicine (Phoenix, AZ)

Lora Melnicoe, MD, MPH; Pediatrics (Denver, CO)

Carlos Mendez, MD; Pediatrics (Bradenton, FL)

Daisy Merey, MD; Family Medicine (West Palm Beach, FL)

Maanasi Mistry, MD; Pediatric Cardiology (Boston, MA)

James Mitchiner, MD; Emergency Medicine (Ann Arbor, MI)

Mehdi Moezi, MD, FACP; Hematology/Medical Oncology (Fleming Island, FL)

Abhisekh Mohapatra, MD, MS; Vascular Surgery (Boston, MA)

Yvonne Monroe, MD; Psychiatry (Chapel Hill, NC)

Scott Monteith, MD; Psychiatry (Traverse City, MI)

David Moore, DO; Internal Medicine (Saugatauck, MI)

Monique Morisseau, MD; Family Medicine (Grand Junction, CO)

Herbert Moselle, MD; Otolaryngology (Plantation, FL)

David Moss, MD; Psychiatry (Orange Park, FL)

Robbie Moyer, MD; Pediatrics (Cary, NC)

Abdul Muneer, MD; Internal Medicine (Las Vegas, NV)

Fred Mushkat, MD; Emergency Medicine (Cape Coral, FL)

Ronica Nanda, MD; Radiation Oncology (Clearwater, FL)

Ashok Narayan, MD; Neurology (Tempe, AZ)

Barry Nathan, MD; Pediatrics (Ann Arbor, MI)

Syed Naqvi, MD; Internal Medicine (Dublin, OH)

Sarah Neilly, MD; Anesthesiology (Melbourne, FL)

Karen Newman, MD; Psychiatry (King of Prussia, PA)

Eliot Nierman, MD; Internal Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Carlos A. Noguera, MD; Oncology (North Bay Village, FL)

Sharon Norling, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Hendersonville, NC)

Ijeoma Opara, MD; Medicine/Pediatrics (Westland, MI)

Donald Oxman, MD; Critical Care (Philadelphia, PA)

Sharon Paige, MD; Pediatric Cardiology (Mountain View, CA)

Yanet Pantaleon, MD; Pathology (Saint Augustine, FL)

Claudia Panzer, MD; Endocrinology (Denver, CO)

Stephen Pariser, MD; Psychiatry (Columbus, OH)

Palak Patel, MD; Anesthesiology (Phoenix, AZ)

Nadja Peter, MD; Internal Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Barbara Polstein, DO; Family Medicine (Flagstaff, AZ)

Jessica Quade, MD; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Angelika Rampal, MD; Pediatrics (McLean, VA)

Dolores Razman, MD; Pediatrics (Palm Harbor, FL)

William Resch, DO; Psychiatry (Blacklick, OH)

Micah Resnick, MD; Pediatrics (Montgomery, OH)

Steven Reznick, MD; Internal Medicine (Boca Raton, FL)

Michael Risbano, MD; Pulmonary Critical Care (Pittsburgh, PA)

Catherine Romanos, MD; Family Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Sandra Romero, MD; Pediatrics (Mesa, AZ)

Elicia Roos, DO; Family Medicine (Jacksonville, FL)

Leonard Rosen, MD; Psychiatry (Farmington, MI)

Ellen Rosenberg, MD; Neonatology (Scottsdale, AZ)

Paul Rosenblum, MD; Ophthalmology (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

Lila Rosenthal, MD; Family Medicine (Boulder, CO)

Frederick Rosin, MD; Family Medicine (White Lake, MI)

Ina Roy-Faderman, PhD, MD; HIV and Infectious Disease Management (Sunnyvale, CA)

Kathryn Ryder, MD; Internal Medicine (Honolulu, HI)

Patricia Safavi, MD; Pediatrics (Wauwatosa, WI)

David Saperstein, MD; Neurology (Phoenix, AZ)

Lawrence Schimmel, MD; General and Vascular Surgery (Miami, FL)

Adele Schneider, MD; Genetics (Philadelphia, PA)

Jessica Schorr Saxe, MD; Family Medicine (Charlotte, NC)

Jerome Schroeder, MD; Diagnostic Radiology (Denver, CO)

Nita Schwartz, MD; Emergency Medicine (Genoa, NV)

Kelly Sennholz, MD; Emergency Medicine (Edgewater, CO)

Eve Shapiro, MD; Pediatrics (Tucson, AZ)

Heather Shaw, MD; Hospital Medicine (Durham, NC)

Wolfgang William Shay, DO; Family Medicine (Phoenixville, PA)

Laura Sinai, MD; Pediatrics (Charlotte, NC)

Laurie Smith, PhD, MD; Genetics and Pediatrics (Chapel Hill, NC)

Noah Smith, MD; Psychiatry (Miami, FL)

Lauren Snyder, MD; Family Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI)

Irfan Sohail, MD; Nephrology (Henderson, NV)

Paige Sokolsky, MD; Emergency Medicine (Chapel Hill, NC)

Anita Somani, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Dublin, OH)

Bethel Spargo, MD; Pediatric Endocrinology (Davie, FL)

Carol Stamm, MD; Gynecology (Denver, CO)

Paul Stander, MD; Internal Medicine/Geriatrics (Paradise Valley, AZ)

Gregory Stephens, DO; Otolaryngology (Riverview, MI)

Ronald Steury, DO; Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine (Sheridan, MI)

Richard Strobel, MD; Pulmonary Critical Care Sleep Medicine (New Tripoli, PA)

Mirella Suarez, MD; Pediatrics (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Vijaya Sunkara, MD; Internal Medicine (Ashburn, VA)

Yahia Tagouri, MD; Pathology (Bowie, MD)

Amy Talley, MD; Emergency Medicine (Phoenixville, PA)

Audrey Tashjian, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Churchville, PA)

Eric Thomson, MD; Sports Medicine (Dunn Loring, VA)

Denise Tonner, MD; Endocrinology (Vero Beach, FL)

William Torch, MD, MS; Pediatric & Adult Neurology, Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine (Reno, NV)

Madelaine Tully, MD; Family Medicine (Milwaukee, WI)

Christine Tymczyna, DO; Family Medicine (Tempe, AZ)

Jacqueline Vanderburgh, MD; Psychiatry (Dublin, OH)

Naysha Varghese, MD; Family Medicine (Sterling Heights, MI)

Zevidah Vickery, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Chagrin Falls, OH)

Donald Vigliotti, MD; Pediatrics (Sarver, PA)

Kathryn Villano, MD; Internal Medicine (Miami, FL)

Najah Waters, MD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Philadelphia, PA)

Lasaundra Watson, MD; Internal Medicine (Colorado Springs, CO)

Sara White Gay, MD; Pediatrics (Midlothian, VA)

Jennifer Wildpret, DO; Psychiatry (Pittsburgh, PA)

Allan Wilke, MD; Family Medicine (Portage, MI)

Bridget Williams, MD; Family Medicine (Dublin, OH)

Janice Williams, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Virginia Beach, VA)

Michael Wohlfeiler, MD; Internal Medicine, HIV Medicine (Coconut Grove, FL)

Mia Yang, MD, MS; Geriatric/Internal Medicine (Winston Salem, NC)

Sarah Yousuff, MD; Anesthesiology (Charlotte, NC)

Gayla Zoghlin, MD; Family Medicine (Bloomfield Hills, MI)

Stanley Zuba, MD; Pediatrics (Tavernier, FL)