Scott Atlas

Atlas received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and his MD from the Pritzker School of Medicine of the University of Chicago.

From 1998 to 2012, Atlas was Professor and Chief of Neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center in California. He trained more than 100 neuroradiology fellows in his teaching career.{{cite web |title=Scott W. Atlas' Profile |url=https://profiles.stanford.edu/Scott_Atlas |website=Stanford |language=en |access-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310202727/https://profiles.stanford.edu/scott-atlas?releaseVersion=10.5.1 |url-status=live }} According to the American Board of Radiology, he is board certified in diagnostic radiology, while his certification in neuroradiology lapsed in 2017.{{cite web |title=Verify Board Certification Status |url=https://www.theabr.org/myabr/find-a-radiologist?fn=scott&ln=atlas |website=The American Board of Radiology |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201030048/https://www.theabr.org/myabr/find-a-radiologist?fn=scott&ln=atlas |url-status=live }}

He is the editor of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, a 2,000-page illustrated textbook with 83 contributors.{{Cite journal|publisher=American Society of Neuroradiology|location=Oak Brook, Illinois|date=May 1, 2009|title=Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, 4th ed., Vol. 1 and 2|journal=American Journal of Neuroradiology|language=en|volume=30|issue=5|pages=e76–e77|pmc=7051654| doi=10.3174/ajnr.A1553|issn=0195-6108|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Alexander|first1=Joseph T.|last2=Hair|first2=Regis W.|date=October 1, 1997|title=Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, Second Edition|url=https://academic.oup.com/neurosurgery/article/41/4/989/2915691|journal=Neurosurgery|language=en|volume=41|issue=4|pages=989–990|doi=10.1097/00006123-199710000-00053|issn=0148-396X|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=March 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310202726/https://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/pages/default.aspx|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} He has also written four books on health care policy.

Atlas is the Robert Wesson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, a conservative public policy think tank.{{cite journal|last1=Do|first1=Huy M.|last2=Quencer|first2=Robert|date=September 1, 2003|title=Scott W. Atlas Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution|url=http://www.ajnr.org/content/24/8/1729|journal=American Journal of Neuroradiology|volume=24 |issue=8 |pages=1729|language=en|access-date=June 27, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629152959/http://www.ajnr.org/content/24/8/1729|url-status=live}} He joined the Hoover Institution in 2003.

He served as a senior advisor for health care to the Republican presidential campaigns of Rudy Giuliani in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012.{{cite web |title=Romney's new health care adviser once attacked 'Romneycare' |url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/23/romneys-new-health-care-adviser-once-attacked-romneycare/ |website=CNN |date=March 23, 2012 |language=en |access-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616050013/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/23/romneys-new-health-care-adviser-once-attacked-romneycare/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Rudy Giuliani's health care proposal|url=https://pnhp.org/news/rudy-giulianis-health-care-proposal-2/|website=PNHP|access-date=June 16, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616050023/https://pnhp.org/news/rudy-giulianis-health-care-proposal-2/|url-status=live}}

He has advocated eliminating the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with modified tax deductions and incentives. He has also called for changes to Medicare{{Cite web|last=Atlas|first=Scott|title=Replace Obamacare with a system that cuts costs and values quality care|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/opinions/what-it-will-take-to-replace-obamacare-atlas/index.html|date=December 27, 2016|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=CNN|archive-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929015411/https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/opinions/what-it-will-take-to-replace-obamacare-atlas/index.html|url-status=live}} and "aggressive reforms" to turn Medicaid "into a bridge to private insurance"{{cite web |title=Opinion: Medicaid fails the poor |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/opinion-medicaid-fails-the-poor.html |website=Becker's Hospital Review |date=August 11, 2016 |access-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603051128/https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/opinion-medicaid-fails-the-poor.html |url-status=live }} and encourage health savings accounts. Atlas views the Medicaid expansion as "one of the most misguided parts" of the Affordable Care Act. He opposes proposals to establish a public health insurance option{{Cite web |last=Atlas |first=Scott W. |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Public Option Kills Private Insurance |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/public-option-kills-private-insurance-11563309118 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902145428/https://www.wsj.com/articles/public-option-kills-private-insurance-11563309118 |url-status=live }} or single-payer healthcare.{{Cite web |last=Atlas |first=Scott W. |date=March 9, 2020 |title=The Dangers of Medicare for All |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/opinion/medicare-for-all-cost.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031235249/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/09/opinion/medicare-for-all-cost.html |url-status=live }}

In December 2021, Atlas helped found the Academy for Science and Freedom with Martin Kulldorff and Jay Bhattacharya, a program of the private conservative liberal arts college Hillsdale College.{{Cite web|last1=Bragman|first1=Walker|last2=Kotch|first2=Alex|date=2021-12-22|title=How the Koch Network Is Spreading COVID Misinformation|url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/12/right-wing-think-tanks-herd-immunity-death|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-08|website=Jacobin|archive-date=January 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108224658/https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/12/right-wing-think-tanks-herd-immunity-death}}

On August 10, 2020, President Donald Trump announced that Atlas would join his administration as an advisor on COVID-19.{{cite web|last1=Morrison|first1=Cassidy|date=August 10, 2020|title=Critic of coronavirus lockdowns and school closures made adviser to President Trump|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/critic-of-coronavirus-lockdowns-and-school-closures-made-adviser-to-president-trump|access-date=August 11, 2020|work=Washington Examiner|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811011259/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/critic-of-coronavirus-lockdowns-and-school-closures-made-adviser-to-president-trump|url-status=live}} Atlas, a radiologist, is not a specialist in public health or infectious diseases.{{Cite web|last=Perez|first=Matt|title=Who Is Dr. Scott Atlas? Trump's New Covid Health Adviser Seen As Counter To Fauci And Birx|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2020/08/12/who-is-dr-scott-atlas-trumps-new-covid-health-adviser-seen-as-counter-to-fauci-and-birx/|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815004811/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2020/08/12/who-is-dr-scott-atlas-trumps-new-covid-health-adviser-seen-as-counter-to-fauci-and-birx/|url-status=live}} He reportedly caught Trump's eye because of his frequent appearances on Fox News that summer.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/us/politics/scott-atlas-trump-coronavirus-adviser-resigns.html|title=Scott Atlas, a Trump Coronavirus Adviser, Resigns|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=November 30, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=1 January 2021|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231143626/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/us/politics/scott-atlas-trump-coronavirus-adviser-resigns.html|url-status=live}}

{{See also|COVID-19 misinformation by the United States}}

Atlas advanced misinformation about COVID-19. He claimed that children "have virtually zero risk of dying, and a very, very low risk of any serious illness from this disease" and "children almost never transmit the disease" although children can carry, transmit, and in some cases be killed by the COVID-19 virus. As of September 2021, 544 American children had died of COVID-19, 0.095% of all COVID-19 deaths.{{cite web | url =https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Deaths-Focus-on-Ages-0-18-Yea/nr4s-juj3 | title =Provisional COVID-19 Deaths: Focus on Ages 0-18 Years | last =National Center for Health Statistics | date =September 22, 2021 | website = | publisher =Centers for Disease Control | access-date =September 28, 2021 | quote = | archive-date =September 28, 2021 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210928075033/https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Deaths-Focus-on-Ages-0-18-Yea/nr4s-juj3 | url-status =live }} He expressed skepticism that face masks help prevent the spread of the virus, including in a tweet in October 2020 that Twitter removed after determining it was not accurate. Later that day, HHS official Brett Giroir, the Assistant Secretary for Health, reaffirmed that masks did work to prevent transmission of the virus.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Allan |date=October 18, 2020 |title=Twitter removes tweet from top Trump Covid adviser saying masks don't work |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/twitter-removes-tweet-top-trump-covid-adviser-saying-masks-don-n1243841 |work=NBC News |access-date=October 18, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130091344/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/twitter-removes-tweet-top-trump-covid-adviser-saying-masks-don-n1243841 |archive-date=November 30, 2020}} Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, was reported to be "relieved" by the removal of Atlas's tweet.{{cite news |last=Klein |first=Betsy |date=October 19, 2020 |title=Birx tells friends she was relieved after Trump adviser Scott Atlas' inaccurate mask tweet was removed |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/19/politics/scott-atlas-deborah-birx-task-force/index.html |website=cnn.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=October 19, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121082911/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/19/politics/scott-atlas-deborah-birx-task-force/index.html |archive-date=November 21, 2020}}

He argued that only symptomatic individuals should be tested for the coronavirus, and pushed for the August 24, 2020, change on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website saying that people who had been exposed to the virus but showed no symptoms should not be tested.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/us/politics/trump-scott-atlas-coronavirus.html|date=September 2, 2020|first1=Noah|last1=Weiland|first2=Sheryl Gay|last2=Stolberg|author-link2=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|first3=Michael D.|last3=Shear|first4=Jim|last4=Tankersley|access-date=September 2, 2020|title=A New Coronavirus Adviser Roils the White House With Unorthodox Ideas|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=September 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902091220/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/us/politics/trump-scott-atlas-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}} This position was opposed by many public health experts including CDC scientists, as 40% of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic but can still transmit the virus. On September 18 it was reported that the change to the testing recommendation had been written by the White House coronavirus task force, and had been placed on the CDC website by political appointees in the Department of Health and Human Services without the knowledge of CDC scientists.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html|title=C.D.C. Testing Guidance Was Published Against Scientists' Objections|last=Mandavilli|first=Apoorva|date=September 17, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092512/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/health/coronavirus-testing-cdc.html/|url-status=live}} The original CDC recommendation — that anyone exposed to the virus should be tested whether or not they showed symptoms – was restored to the website the next day.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/health/covid-19-testing-guidance-cdc-hhs/index.html|title=Controversial coronavirus testing guidance came from HHS and didn't go through CDC scientific review, sources say|date=September 18, 2020|publisher=CNN|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092514/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/health/covid-19-testing-guidance-cdc-hhs/index.html/|url-status=live}}

He advised that the virus should be allowed to spread naturally among people deemed at low risk, while protecting the most vulnerable populations, so as to gain herd immunity.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronavirus-scott-atlas-herd-immunity/2020/08/30/925e68fe-e93b-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html|title=New Trump pandemic adviser pushes controversial 'herd immunity' strategy, worrying public health officials|last1=Abutaleb|first1=Yasmeen|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|date=August 31, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=1 January 2021|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008122614/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronavirus-scott-atlas-herd-immunity/2020/08/30/925e68fe-e93b-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html|url-status=live}} The Washington Post reported that Atlas was the leading proponent within the Trump administration for a herd immunity approach to the virus, although some experts cautioned that such an approach could lead to hundreds of thousands more American deaths. Atlas later denied that he advocated for the herd immunity strategy,{{Cite web |last=Gander |first=Kashmira |date=September 1, 2020 |title='Overt Lie': White House Adviser Scott Atlas Denies Herd Immunity Strategy Claims |url=https://www.newsweek.com/scott-atlas-herd-immunity-deny-strategy-1528827 |website=Newsweek |access-date=September 3, 2020 |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904013748/https://www.newsweek.com/scott-atlas-herd-immunity-deny-strategy-1528827 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dr-atlas-denies-promoting-herd-immunity-coronavirus|title=Dr. Atlas blasts reports he backed 'herd immunity': 'I've never said that to the president'|first=Angelica|last=Stabile|date=September 1, 2020|website=Fox News|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903150943/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dr-atlas-denies-promoting-herd-immunity-coronavirus|url-status=live}} said "there's never been a desire to have cases spread through the community," and said it "has never been the president's policy."{{Cite web|title=President Trump News Conference|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?476162-1%2Fpresident-declines-commit-peaceful-transfer-power-loses-election|access-date=September 26, 2020|publisher=C-SPAN|language=en-us|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925002631/https://www.c-span.org/video/?476162-1%2Fpresident-declines-commit-peaceful-transfer-power-loses-election|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |date=October 14, 2020 |title=White House embraces a declaration from scientists that opposes lockdowns and relies on 'herd immunity' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/world/white-house-embraces-a-declaration-from-scientists-that-opposes-lockdowns-and-relies-on-herd-immunity.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 14, 2020 |archive-date=October 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014084604/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/world/white-house-embraces-a-declaration-from-scientists-that-opposes-lockdowns-and-relies-on-herd-immunity.html |url-status=live }} However, in October and November 2020, he "touted" the Great Barrington Declaration, an open letter that calls for encouraging herd immunity.{{cite web|last1=Peltz|first1=Madeline|date=16 November 2020|title=Scott Atlas pushes herd immunity on Fox after denying|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/scott-atlas-pushes-herd-immunity-fox-after-denying-he-pushes-herd-immunity-fox|website=Media Matter for America|publisher=MediaMatters.org|quote=Atlas touted the Great Barrington Declaration, an online movement backed by a libertarian think tank that calls for “herd immunity,” a policy of deliberately spreading the coronavirus as widely as possible, causing millions of unnecessary deaths in the process and straining our health care system.|access-date=November 16, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027161826/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/scott-atlas-pushes-herd-immunity-fox-after-denying-he-pushes-herd-immunity-fox|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Mandavilli|first1=Apoorva|last2=Stolberg|first2=Sheryl Gay|date=2020-10-19|title=A Viral Theory Cited by Health Officials Draws Fire From Scientists|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/health/coronavirus-great-barrington.html|access-date=2020-11-17|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202012459/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/health/coronavirus-great-barrington.html|url-status=live}} He advocated for in-person school reopening and resumption of college sports during the pandemic.{{cite web | last1=Ballhaus | first1=Rebecca | title=Trump Adds Coronavirus Adviser Whose Views Closely Align With His Own |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-adds-coronavirus-adviser-whose-views-closely-align-with-his-own-11597350585 | date=August 13, 2020 | work=The Wall Street Journal | access-date=August 16, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003073746/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-adds-coronavirus-adviser-whose-views-closely-align-with-his-own-11597350585 |archive-date=October 3, 2020}}{{cite web | last1=Colvin | first1=Jill | title=Trump makes call for new White House doctor's virus advice | url=https://apnews.com/886b59d445a3d20739e2f77600976ea0 | date=August 16, 2020 | publisher=Associated Press | access-date=August 16, 2020 | archive-date=August 16, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816150006/https://apnews.com/886b59d445a3d20739e2f77600976ea0 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Abutaleb |first1=Yasmeen |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |date=August 31, 2020 |title=New Trump pandemic adviser pushes controversial 'herd immunity' strategy, worrying public health officials |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronavirus-scott-atlas-herd-immunity/2020/08/30/925e68fe-e93b-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html |access-date=August 31, 2020 |archive-date=October 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008122614/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-coronavirus-scott-atlas-herd-immunity/2020/08/30/925e68fe-e93b-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.kusi.com/dr-scott-atlas-pushes-for-reopening-and-asks-arent-schools-an-essential-business/|date=July 8, 2020|title=Dr. Scott Atlas pushes for reopening and asks, 'aren't schools an essential business?'|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-date=September 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905053520/https://www.kusi.com/dr-scott-atlas-pushes-for-reopening-and-asks-arent-schools-an-essential-business/|url-status=live}}

He quickly became influential within the administration, and Trump welcomed his recommendations such as faster reopening and less testing, which were in accord with Trump's own preferences. Atlas was the only doctor to share the stage at Trump's pandemic briefings in the week after his appointment was announced, and he also prepared Trump's briefing materials. Trump publicly disagreed with or reduced the roles of other members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, including Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci,{{cite web | last1=Cook | first1=Nancy | title=Trump elevates Scott Atlas, a doctor with a rosier coronavirus outlook | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/trump-scott-atlas-coronavirus-doctor-396741 | date=August 17, 2020 | work=Politico | access-date=August 18, 2020 | archive-date=August 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818023238/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/trump-scott-atlas-coronavirus-doctor-396741 | url-status=live }} with whom Atlas repeatedly clashed. Robert R. Redfield of the CDC was heard privately commenting on Atlas that "everything he says is false".{{cite news |last1=Alba |first1=Monica |title=Redfield voices alarm over influence of Trump's new coronavirus task force adviser |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/redfield-voices-alarm-over-influence-trump-s-new-coronavirus-task-n1241221 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |work=NBC News |date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928113246/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/redfield-voices-alarm-over-influence-trump-s-new-coronavirus-task-n1241221 |url-status=live }} When Fauci was asked whether Atlas was providing misleading information to Trump, Fauci replied, without naming Atlas, that "sometimes there are things that are said that are really taken either out of context or actually incorrect".{{cite news |last1=Weixel |first1=Nathan |title=Atlas, health officials feuds add to Trump coronavirus turmoil |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/518847-atlas-health-officials-feuds-add-to-trump-coronavirus-turmoil |access-date=September 30, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=September 30, 2020 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930194658/https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/518847-atlas-health-officials-feuds-add-to-trump-coronavirus-turmoil |url-status=live }} Starting in August 2020, Birx avoided meetings where Atlas was present.{{Cite web |last1=Bennett |first1=Kate |last2=Cohen |first2=Elizabeth |title=Birx cedes White House turf to Atlas while hitting the road to spread her public health gospel |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/politics/deborah-birx-task-force-scott-atlas/index.html |access-date=2020-11-06 |website=CNN |date=October 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108163319/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/politics/deborah-birx-task-force-scott-atlas/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Dr. Birx vows she won't sit with Trump-picked task force member|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/10/29/deborah-birx-scott-atlas-coronavirus-task-force-bennett-lead-vpx.cnn|access-date=6 November 2020|website=www.cnn.com|date=October 29, 2020 |publisher=CNN|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106145411/https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/10/29/deborah-birx-scott-atlas-coronavirus-task-force-bennett-lead-vpx.cnn|url-status=live}} Fauci said of Atlas, "I have real problems with that guy. He's a smart guy who's talking about things that I believe he doesn't have any real insight or knowledge or experience in. He keeps talking about things that when you dissect it out and parse it out, it doesn't make any sense." In mid-November 2020, it was reported that Atlas had not attended White House task force meetings in person since late September amid his clashes with Fauci and Birx.

During stimulus negotiations in fall 2020, Atlas opposed funds for widespread COVID-19 testing; in an email to an economist, Atlas wrote that the push for testing was "a fundamental error of the public health people perpetrated on the world."{{Cite news |last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |last2=Weiland |first2=Noah |last3=Cochrane |first3=Emily |date=2020-10-16 |title=White House Opposes Expanded Virus Testing, Complicating Stimulus Talks |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/business/white-house-coronavirus-testing.html |access-date=2020-10-17 |issn=0362-4331 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122080029/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/business/white-house-coronavirus-testing.html |archive-date=2020-11-22}} After Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus in early October 2020, Atlas appeared on Fox News to predict a "complete and full and rapid recovery" for Trump and to urge viewers not to panic.{{Cite web|date=October 2, 2020|title=Controversial coronavirus tsar accused of playing down pandemic says 'no reason to panic' over Trump diagnosis|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-coronavirus-scott-atlas-diagnosis-recovery-b747030.html|access-date=October 3, 2020|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002144717/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-coronavirus-scott-atlas-diagnosis-recovery-b747030.html|url-status=live}} On October 31, Atlas was interviewed for 26 minutes on a broadcast of the RT network (formerly Russia Today), a Russian state-controlled outlet classified by U.S. intelligence agencies as part of Russia's propaganda apparatus. The next day, Atlas apologized, writing: "I regret doing the interview and apologize for allowing myself to be taken advantage of."{{cite news |last=Treisman |first=Rachel |date=November 1, 2020 |title=WH Adviser Scott Atlas Apologizes For Interview With Kremlin-Backed News Outlet |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/01/930149143/wh-adviser-scott-atlas-apologizes-for-interview-with-kremlin-backed-news-outlet |publisher=NPR |access-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102085105/https://www.npr.org/2020/11/01/930149143/wh-adviser-scott-atlas-apologizes-for-interview-with-kremlin-backed-news-outlet |url-status=live }} On November 15, Atlas wrote a tweet urging Michigan residents to "rise up" against the state's newly announced COVID-19 restrictions, which included a requirement that high school and college classes must be conducted remotely and a three-week ban on many indoor activities including restaurant dining.{{cite news|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/health/2020/11/15/here-are-14-changes-going-into-effect-under-michigans-new-covid-19-restrictions/#//|title=Here are 14 changes going into effect under Michigan's new COVID-19 restrictions|last=Hutchinson|first=Derrick|date=November 15, 2020|work=Click On Detroit|access-date=17 November 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117222857/https://www.clickondetroit.com/health/2020/11/15/here-are-14-changes-going-into-effect-under-michigans-new-covid-19-restrictions/#//|url-status=live}} Atlas' tweet included the hashtags #FreedomMatters and #StepUp.{{cite news |last1=LeBlanc |first1=Paul |last2=Diamond |first2=Jeremy |date=November 15, 2020 |title=Trump coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas urges Michigan to 'rise up' against new Covid-19 measures |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/15/politics/scott-atlas-coronavirus-michigan/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314104238/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/15/politics/scott-atlas-coronavirus-michigan/index.html |url-status=live }}

Deborah Birx, the former White House coronavirus coordinator, said Trump was fed "parallel data" that she hadn't approved. Somebody had been creating graphics for Trump to present "that were not transparently utilized." Atlas was involved, she said.{{cite web |author1=Kate Duffy |title=Deborah Birx, the former White House coronavirus coordinator, said Trump was fed 'parallel data' that she hadn't approved, which he then presented to the public |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/deborah-birx-trump-covid-parallel-data-scott-atlas-2021-1 |website=Business Insider |date=25 January 2021 |access-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411051410/https://www.businessinsider.com/deborah-birx-trump-covid-parallel-data-scott-atlas-2021-1 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=Kelly Hooper |title=Deborah Birx: 'Parallel set of data' on Covid-19 was delivered to Trump |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/24/birx-trump-parallel-covid-data-461928 |website=Politico |date=24 January 2021 |access-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411051410/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/24/birx-trump-parallel-covid-data-461928 |url-status=live }}

In November 2023, Atlas gave a presentation at the Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization at University of Colorado Boulder titled "Restoring Trust After COVID".{{Citation |title=CU Boulder Benson Center: Scott Atlas: Restoring Trust After COVID | date=November 27, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs5h2H4DRD8 |access-date=2023-12-06 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Scott Atlas: Restoring Trust After COVID |url=https://www.colorado.edu/center/benson/scott-atlas |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization |language=en}}

Atlas's influence on policy alarmed many doctors and health experts.{{cite web |last1=Brumfiel |first1=Geoff |last2=Keith |first2=Tamara |title=President Trump's New COVID-19 Adviser Is Making Public Health Experts Nervous|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/04/909348915/president-trumps-new-covid-19-advisor-is-making-public-health-experts-nervous |access-date=September 12, 2020 |website=NPR.org |language=en |url-status=live |publisher=NPR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129081955/https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/04/909348915/president-trumps-new-covid-19-advisor-is-making-public-health-experts-nervous |archive-date=November 29, 2020}} In September 2020, 78 of Atlas's former colleagues at the Stanford Medical School signed an open letter criticizing Atlas, writing that he had made "falsehoods and misrepresentations of science" that "run counter to established science" and "undermine public health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy."{{cite web |url=https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/read-the-open-letter-from-stanford-doctors-on-scott-atlas/813b50f72b6543b4/full.pdf |title=Dear Colleagues |author1=Philip A. Pizzo, MD |author2=Upi Singh, MD |author3=Bonnie Maldonado, MD |date=September 9, 2020 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 1, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126235901/https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/read-the-open-letter-from-stanford-doctors-on-scott-atlas/813b50f72b6543b4/full.pdf |archive-date=November 26, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Bruggeman |first1=Lucien |last2=Cathey |first2=Libby |title=Former Stanford colleagues warn Dr. Scott Atlas fosters 'falsehoods and misrepresentations of science' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stanford-colleagues-warn-dr-scott-atlas-fosters-falsehoods/story?id=72926212 |access-date=September 12, 2020 |work=ABC News |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120122756/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stanford-colleagues-warn-dr-scott-atlas-fosters-falsehoods/story?id=72926212 |archive-date=November 20, 2020}} Atlas's lawyer Marc Kasowitz threatened to sue the researchers.{{cite web |last=Niedzwiadek |first=Nick |title=Scott Atlas lawyer threatens defamation suit over critical Stanford open letter |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/17/scott-atlas-stanford-defamation-suit-416992 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=Politico |date=September 17, 2020 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122164808/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/17/scott-atlas-stanford-defamation-suit-416992 |archive-date=November 22, 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Scott Atlas, White House adviser on coronavirus, threatens to sue colleagues back at Stanford|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/23/scott-atlas-white-house-adviser-coronavirus-threatens-sue-colleagues-back-stanford|access-date=2020-10-27|website=www.insidehighered.com|language=en|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028054103/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/23/scott-atlas-white-house-adviser-coronavirus-threatens-sue-colleagues-back-stanford|url-status=live}}

Atlas's comment urging Michiganders to "rise up" against measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission was widely condemned by health professionals and by Stanford University, home of the Hoover Institute where Atlas is a senior fellow.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Stanford-rebukes-Scott-Atlas-following-his-15732313.php|title=Stanford rebukes Scott Atlas following his controversial rise up tweet|last=Williams|first=Michael|date=November 16, 2020|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=17 November 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117163804/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Stanford-rebukes-Scott-Atlas-following-his-15732313.php|url-status=live}} In November 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer denounced the tweet as "incredibly reckless"{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dr-scott-atlas-fire-telling-michigan-rise-covid/story?id=74234276|title=Dr. Scott Atlas under fire for telling Michigan to 'rise up' against COVID-19 restrictions|last=Cathey|first=Libby|date=November 16, 2020|work=ABC News|access-date=17 November 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117183718/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dr-scott-atlas-fire-telling-michigan-rise-covid/story?id=74234276|url-status=live}} and Fauci said: "I totally disagree with it, and I made no secret of that. ... I don't want to say anything against Dr. Atlas as a person but I totally disagree with the stand he takes. I just do, period."

The same month, the Stanford University Faculty Senate, by an 85% vote, adopted a resolution condemning Atlas for his actions that "promote a view of COVID-19 that contradicts medical science." The resolution cited Atlas's statements and said they endangered the public.{{cite journal |title= Stanford Faculty Senate Condemns Dr. Scott Atlas Over His Covid-19 Conduct |last= Nietzel |first= Michael T. |date= 2020-11-21 |access-date= 2020-11-22 |journal= Forbes |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/11/21/stanford-faculty-senate-condems-dr-scott-atlas-over-his-covid-19-conduct/ |archive-date= November 22, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201122040011/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/11/21/stanford-faculty-senate-condems-dr-scott-atlas-over-his-covid-19-conduct/ |url-status= live }}

On November 30, 2020, Atlas posted a letter (dated for the following day) resigning his White House position, days before the end of the maximum 130-day period in which he could serve with "special government employee" status.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-atlas/scott-atlas-resigns-as-special-adviser-to-trump-on-coronavirus-idUSKBN28B3AS Scott Atlas resigns as special adviser to Trump on coronavirus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201005235/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-atlas/scott-atlas-resigns-as-special-adviser-to-trump-on-coronavirus-idUSKBN28B3AS |date=December 1, 2020 }}, Reuters (November 30, 2020).[https://www.promagzine.com/2020/12/01/scott-atlasus-coronavirus-adviser-to-donald-trump-resigns/ Scott Atlas, US Coronavirus advisor to Donald Trump resigns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218012502/https://www.promagzine.com/2020/12/01/scott-atlasus-coronavirus-adviser-to-donald-trump-resigns/ |date=December 18, 2020 }}, Pro Magazine (December 01, 2020).

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine (1990 1st ed.; 1996; 2002; 2008; 2016){{cite journal |last1=Mancuso |first1=Anthony A. |title=Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, First Edition |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mrm.1910220119 |journal=Magnetic Resonance in Medicine |pages=175 |language=en |doi=10.1002/mrm.1910220119 |date=November 1, 1991|volume=22 |issue=1 |url-access=subscription }}{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Charles Y. |title=Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine, Third Edition |url=https://academic.oup.com/neurosurgery/article-abstract/51/5/1316/2744414?redirectedFrom=PDF |journal=Neurosurgery |pages=1316–1317 |language=en |doi=10.1097/00006123-200211000-00037 |date=November 1, 2002 |volume=51 |issue=5 |access-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603051128/https://academic.oup.com/neurosurgery/article-abstract/51/5/1316/2744414?redirectedFrom=PDF |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}
• Power to the Patient: Selected Health Care Issues and Policy Solutions (2005)
• Reforming America’s Health Care System (2010)
• In Excellent Health: Setting the Record Straight on America’s Health Care System (2011)
• Restoring Quality Health Care: A Six‐Point Plan for Comprehensive Reform at Lower Cost (Hoover Press, 2020 2nd ed.) {{Cite web|url=https://www.hoover.org/research/restoring-quality-health-care|title=Restoring Quality Health Care|website=Hoover Institution|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119175604/https://www.hoover.org/research/restoring-quality-health-care|url-status=live}}

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