I just found out that a dear former friend and neighbor of mine, Caitlin Cross-Barnett who worked in child and maternal health with The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid through NIH and Johns Hopkins University ended her life just recently. Her husband posted this on FB, so I'm not breaking any confidence. While I certainly don't know all that was behind this tragic loss, he indicated she was fighting depression. How could she not be? Everything she worked for in her adult life in regards to public health is under threat. Posts from just a month ago that she shared on LinkedIn show the stress and chaos taking place at NIH and in programs like hers. As a public health professionnal myself, I can honestly say that this could have been me if I was still actively working in the field. The heartbreak I feel on a daily basis from what is happening just can't be put into words. Only people like her who have the same passion for public health can truly understand how bad things are right now. I know that includes you. Thank you for all you are doing these days to combat this absolute attack on public health. The value of it cannot be overstated and is helping me to maintain some hope going forward.
Your relay of a personal/professional tragic experience, as well as that of Carol above is so important to put out as these are dedicated human beings deeply impacted by these atrocities. The impact is institutional, but also inhumane.
Note to Dr. Faust: I do understand and care about docs and scientists who are grant dependent. I am married to a retired physician/scientist and have lived my life watching him write grants and doing research on his dime. (Harvard or no Harvard) I hope there is some relief for these folks.
I have a different concern now, though. Our kid is going to their 10th med school reunion this spring. They have been a salaried doc at a non-profit hospital since graduation. They were a non-trad student, married with kids. They have huge med school loans. (I wish we could have helped more.)
There was a promise, and a hope, that there would be some relief from these loans after ten years at a non-profit. There is no way in hell that Trump/Musk will have any understanding that not all docs make boat loads of money.
Your comment of the experience of both your husband and son/daughter as physicians clearly with a calling to practice medicine for the right reasons is heartbreaking. How do they continue and how do we lure other like-minded people into this profession in the current climate thank you for sharing.
Friends living in Columbia-subsidized apartment buildings (full of professors) reporting that ICE and DOGE are targeting foreign born scientists and intellectuals they deem to be too woke. Coalitions of residents are forming unofficial networks including law professors to help neighbors know what to do when the assholes come knocking. The supers and doormen are getting briefed. It’s terrifying
I just found out that a dear former friend and neighbor of mine, Caitlin Cross-Barnett who worked in child and maternal health with The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid through NIH and Johns Hopkins University ended her life just recently. Her husband posted this on FB, so I'm not breaking any confidence. While I certainly don't know all that was behind this tragic loss, he indicated she was fighting depression. How could she not be? Everything she worked for in her adult life in regards to public health is under threat. Posts from just a month ago that she shared on LinkedIn show the stress and chaos taking place at NIH and in programs like hers. As a public health professionnal myself, I can honestly say that this could have been me if I was still actively working in the field. The heartbreak I feel on a daily basis from what is happening just can't be put into words. Only people like her who have the same passion for public health can truly understand how bad things are right now. I know that includes you. Thank you for all you are doing these days to combat this absolute attack on public health. The value of it cannot be overstated and is helping me to maintain some hope going forward.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and for the loss of warriors for public health. This is tragic.
Your relay of a personal/professional tragic experience, as well as that of Carol above is so important to put out as these are dedicated human beings deeply impacted by these atrocities. The impact is institutional, but also inhumane.
Note to Dr. Faust: I do understand and care about docs and scientists who are grant dependent. I am married to a retired physician/scientist and have lived my life watching him write grants and doing research on his dime. (Harvard or no Harvard) I hope there is some relief for these folks.
I have a different concern now, though. Our kid is going to their 10th med school reunion this spring. They have been a salaried doc at a non-profit hospital since graduation. They were a non-trad student, married with kids. They have huge med school loans. (I wish we could have helped more.)
There was a promise, and a hope, that there would be some relief from these loans after ten years at a non-profit. There is no way in hell that Trump/Musk will have any understanding that not all docs make boat loads of money.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamminsky/2025/03/10/what-trumps-new-student-loan-forgiveness-order-means-for-3-million-borrowers/
Your comment of the experience of both your husband and son/daughter as physicians clearly with a calling to practice medicine for the right reasons is heartbreaking. How do they continue and how do we lure other like-minded people into this profession in the current climate thank you for sharing.
Friends living in Columbia-subsidized apartment buildings (full of professors) reporting that ICE and DOGE are targeting foreign born scientists and intellectuals they deem to be too woke. Coalitions of residents are forming unofficial networks including law professors to help neighbors know what to do when the assholes come knocking. The supers and doormen are getting briefed. It’s terrifying
OMG...the horror people wake up to each day. Expressing my sadness is not adequate. 😥 JJF 🇨🇦