Statement attributable to:
Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON August 11, 2025— The American College of Physicians is deeply saddened by the shooting that occurred outside of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters on Friday, killing a police officer. A tragic, unnecessary loss of life.
This tragedy calls attention to the very serious harm that is caused by the health care-related misinformation and disinformation that has become ubiquitous on the internet. This incident demonstrates why it is critical that the public has accurate information about health care and understands why physicians and other health care professionals recommend the services or interventions that they do, using science and scientific expertise, based on the best available evidence. ACP is committed to working to stop the spread of inaccurate misinformation to protect the health of the public and the safety of those who work to protect the public’s health.
Further, Friday’s incident has thrown this workplace, the first responders who assisted them and their communities into despair; forced to contend with the physical, mental and emotional repercussions of firearm violence. ACP has long called for more effective policies to prevent firearm violence, including policies that would help to keep firearms out of the possession of at-risk individuals. More needs to be done to put these types of policies in place and prevent future tragedies.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 162,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org