Former University of Miami president Donna Shalala and physician Raj Panjabi will discuss Panjabi's new book, “Safer,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Books & Books in Coral Gables.

The free fireside chat centers on “Safer: A Playbook—Turning Fear into Action and Crisis into Community” (HarperOne, $30). The book draws on Panjabi's experiences in public health and his personal life to explore how people can navigate uncertainty and respond to crises, according to HarperCollins.

Panjabi, a Harvard Medical School faculty member, arrived in the United States at age 9 after fleeing civil war in Liberia, according to the organizer's event listing. He served as senior director for global health security and biodefense at the White House National Security Council and previously led the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative. He also co-founded Last Mile Health, which works to expand access to health care in underserved communities.

Shalala served as U.S. secretary of health and human services under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, the longest tenure in the department's history, according to the University of Miami. She later led UM from 2001 to 2015. The university's two Momentum fundraising campaigns raised more than $3 billion, according to UM's 2015 president's report. President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008.

The event takes place at 265 Aragon Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and an RSVP grants general entry, but seating is not guaranteed. Books & Books advises arriving early. Copies of “Safer” will be available for purchase.

Upcoming at Books & Books Coral Gables