About the Book
This comprehensive analysis of COVID-19 draws on the Iceberg Framework—a modified systems thinking model—to examine the deeper forces that shaped the pandemic's trajectory, from structural inequities and institutional fragility to shifting mental models and global behavioral patterns.
Authored by a former Taiwanese Minister of Health and an experienced health system leader, the book combines personal insight with international perspective, offering historical context, contemporary data, and strategic foresight. It situates COVID-19 among history's deadliest pandemics while critically exploring the events, systemic structures, and cultural responses that influenced the crisis. Structured in four parts, the book journeys from echoes of past pandemics and variant-driven disruptions to the hidden foundations of public health responses, culminating in a forward-looking reflection on how COVID-19 has reshaped our understanding of pandemic risk and resilience, while also offering readers a framework for enhanced preparedness in an era of converging global threats.
Timely, accessible, and analytically rigorous, Decoding the Pandemic is essential reading for students, researchers, and practitioners in public health, epidemiology, global health policy, and systems science—anyone seeking to understand not just what happened, but why, and what must change before the next pandemic arrives.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: An Overview of the COVID-19 Pandemic Five Years Later. Part I – Echoes of the Past: COVID-19's Place in the History of Pandemics. 1. The Pantheon of Plagues: A Historical Overview. 2. The Black Death Revisited: Parallels and Contrasts with COVID-19. 3. A Tale of Two Pandemics: 1918 Influenza and COVID-19. 4. The Smallpox Legacy: Eradication Lessons for COVID-19. 5. Viral Cousins: Comparing Other Coronaviruses to COVID-19. 6. Pandemic Wisdom: Historical and Contemporary Lessons for COVID-19. Part II – The Pandemic Iceberg: Uncovering COVID-19's Hidden Depths. 7. The Iceberg Ahead: A Framework for Pandemic Analysis. 8. The Visible Peak: How Global Pandemic Events Triggered Immediate Disruption. 9. Beneath the Surface: How Underlying Trends Shaped the Evolution of the Pandemic's Trajectory. 10. Structural Foundations: How Systems and Institutions Shaped the Pandemic Response. 11. Into the Abyss: How Core Mental Models Influenced Global Pandemic Thinking. Part III – Pandemic-Proofing the World: Current Best Practices for Prevention. 12. Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions: The First Line of Defense. 13. Vaccines and Treatments: Core Pillars of Pandemic Control. 14. High-Risk Factors: Understanding Vulnerable Groups in the Pandemic. 15. Lifestyle as a Shield: Health Behaviors and Pandemic Resilience. Part IV – Beyond the Horizon: How COVID-19 Shapes the Next Pandemic Era. 16. The Long Shadow: Six Enduring Impacts of the Pandemic. 17. The Long COVID Conundrum: From Medical Mystery to Public Health Priority. 18. Converging Disease Outbreaks: A Harbinger of Future Pandemics. 19. A Gathering Storm: The Rise of New Zoonotic Threats. 20. From Iceberg to Lighthouse: A Final Reflection.
About the Author :
Wen-Ta Chiu serves as Co-CEO of AHMC Health System and is the former Taiwan Health Minister and President of Taipei Medical University. A Stanford Fellow with a DrPH from the University of Pittsburgh, he led COVID-19 response efforts across ten hospitals. From 2011 to 2014, he represented Taiwan at the World Health Assembly for four consecutive years, delivering speeches on global health priorities. His leadership has been recognized with 25 awards, including the American Public Health Association’s David P. Rall Award.
Jonathan Wu is a prominent medical leader in the United States and founder of AHMC Health System, a network of ten hospitals in California. Under his leadership, AHMC has expanded to include a cancer center, a health insurance company, and long-term care facilities. Dr. Wu also founded Alhambra Medical University and has supported the development of California Northstate University. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was recognized by a U.S. Congress member as a “Hometown Hero of the Pandemic” for his contributions to public health and community support.
Review :
"A comprehensive and insightful analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic's first five years." — Dr. Matthew Lin, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"A great contribution to physicians, offering clarity and perspective on protecting the communities they serve during a pandemic." — Dr. Kenneth Sim, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Astrana Health
"A well-researched, systems-level perspective on pandemic resilience, offering practical value for healthcare leaders managing operational and strategic response." — Ms. Linda Marsh, Senior Executive Vice President, AHMC Healthcare
"A thoughtful and globally relevant guide for healthcare leaders navigating the complexities of pandemic planning, communication, and clinical coordination." — Dr. Alex Chiu, Former President, North America Taiwanese Medical Association
"An invaluable resource for ER physicians and hospital administrators facing pandemic-related challenges." — Dr. Stanley Toy, CEO, Greater El Monte Community Hospital; Emergency Physician
"An in-depth exploration of future pandemic risks and the critical lessons learned from COVID-19." — Dr. Mike Ly, Surveyor for The Joint Commission; Infectious Disease Specialist
"An essential synthesis of frontline knowledge and public health insight, reflecting lessons drawn from over 130 COVID-related CME sessions and clinical discussions." — Dr. Basil Vassantachart, CME Program Director, Alhambra Hospital Medical Center; Family Physician
"Offers clear, experience-based insights into the evolving challenges of critical care during the pandemic—especially valuable for ICU clinicians and hospital planners." — Dr. Joseph Kuei, Director of Critical Care; Pulmonologist
"An essential guide for family physicians navigating the challenges of pandemic management." — Dr. Josephine Chen, Former CMO, Garfield Medical Center; President of Taipei Medical University Alumni Association; Family Physician
"An informative and engaging narrative that skillfully weaves together history, science, and policy to offer lasting insights into the pandemic and future preparedness." — Professor Fu-Tong Liu, Academician and Research Fellow, Academia Sinica; Dermatologist
"A timely and deeply informed contribution that distills five years of pandemic experience into clear, actionable insights for the global health community." — Dr. Yun Yen, Former Research Director, City of Hope; Former President, Taipei Medical University; Oncologist
