In this episode of Favorable Environments, Tung Nguyen speaks with Dr. Patrick Rynn Hogan, DHA, author of the newly published book The Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance: Why the Next Global Health Crisis Has Already Begun and CEO of Prescient Healthcare, about one of the most urgent yet under-recognized threats to modern health. Dr. Hogan explains antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a system-level failure spanning healthcare infrastructure, agricultural practices, supply chains, and innovation pipelines—where once-treatable infections like UTIs, sepsis, and minor wounds now contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually as microbes evolve beyond standard antibiotics.
The conversation delves into key drivers of AMR: widespread antibiotic use in livestock (accounting for about 60% of global consumption), leading to environmental dissemination through soil, water, and food systems; post-COVID strains on rural hospitals and access gaps in states like South Dakota; and the stagnation in new antibiotic development due to limited profitability and reimbursement challenges. Dr. Hogan highlights South Dakota's moderate-risk profile—strong statewide reporting to the CDC and proactive health systems balanced against higher prescribing rates and rural geography—and the interconnected ecosystem risks amplified in agriculture-heavy regions.
Drawing on historical pandemics and today's hyper-connected world, he stresses preparedness through everyday actions (completing full antibiotic courses, rigorous hygiene, proper food handling), better surveillance and transparent reporting (often masked under sepsis or UTI labels), and accelerated innovation in therapeutics, data tools, and AI for analysis and decision support. Dr. Hogan views AMR as a ripe field for disruption, calling for pharma investment, improved communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration to avert a future where resistant infections rival cancer in mortality.
This episode offers a grounded look at why awareness and proactive steps matter now—as populations age and vulnerabilities rise—and how South Dakota's tight networks, statewide support, and emerging bioscience ecosystem create scalable advantages for addressing rural health challenges, advancing diagnostics and treatments, and building long-term resilience. The discussion underscores the USD Discovery District's role as a conduit for university research, private sector ambition, and community impact in fostering favorable environments for mission-driven innovation in biotech, medtech, and global health security.
To stay connected with the USD Discovery District, follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/usd-discovery-district and discover opportunities at usddiscovery.com, including leasing at Building 1 for research, diagnostics, and advanced manufacturing.
Favorable Environments is presented by the USD Discovery District and supported by South Dakota First Capital, working to expand access to capital for companies building the future of bioscience in the region.
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