THREAD
1/
It's not going to be the "brilliance of experts" that truly makes a difference right now to slow #COVID19.
It is going to be the actions of "regular" every day people becoming "experts" in the things we need most.
Read.
1/
It's not going to be the "brilliance of experts" that truly makes a difference right now to slow #COVID19.
It is going to be the actions of "regular" every day people becoming "experts" in the things we need most.
Read.
2/ Over the last year, I led the American Medical Association's @JournalofEthics issue on the ethics of pandemic response.
We focused on #Ebola, but ended up covering so many topics #journalism #anthropology #law #biosecurity #mentalhealth #epi etc
journalofethics.ama-assn.org/issue/culture-…
We focused on #Ebola, but ended up covering so many topics #journalism #anthropology #law #biosecurity #mentalhealth #epi etc
journalofethics.ama-assn.org/issue/culture-…
3/ If there is anything I learned in leading that effort, it was that there is no single epidemic "expert".
Not only do epidemics require working together across so many academic sectors; they require it across societies at all levels.
Everyone matters.
Not only do epidemics require working together across so many academic sectors; they require it across societies at all levels.
Everyone matters.
4/ I still see people (many medical colleagues honestly) splitting hairs over if someone is a *super* expert in every single topic they open their mouth about.
In my opinion, we are wasting energy trying to put others down, and not enough lifting people up & creating expertise.
In my opinion, we are wasting energy trying to put others down, and not enough lifting people up & creating expertise.
5/ What stuck out to me from the NYT/ Bruce Aylward thread I posted was this anecdote:
China turned a gov receptionist into an infection control expert. She was teaching people how to don/doff gowns effectively.
Expertise was created, not hoarded.
China turned a gov receptionist into an infection control expert. She was teaching people how to don/doff gowns effectively.
Expertise was created, not hoarded.
6/ In no way am I promoting that people spread misinformation, and I recognize that is critical to avoid at this time.
But, I have to say: I don't care who you are or what degrees you have at this point.
What I care about is that you become an expert in the following:
But, I have to say: I don't care who you are or what degrees you have at this point.
What I care about is that you become an expert in the following:
7/
-Isolating if sick w/ symptoms
-calling your doctor/clinic/hospital first before flooding the ED
-washing hands regularly
-cleaning surfaces regularly
-minimizing unneeded contact w/ others
-avoiding large gatherings
-not being racist
-supporting vulnerable neighbors
-Isolating if sick w/ symptoms
-calling your doctor/clinic/hospital first before flooding the ED
-washing hands regularly
-cleaning surfaces regularly
-minimizing unneeded contact w/ others
-avoiding large gatherings
-not being racist
-supporting vulnerable neighbors
8/ What I think we will look back on in some future is that it wasn't the "brilliance of experts" that really bought us time/slowed #COVID19.
It was the brilliance of the "regular" person who took this situation into their own hands (w/ hand sanitizer please).
It was the brilliance of the "regular" person who took this situation into their own hands (w/ hand sanitizer please).
9/ What I'm trying to convey is that we need every single person in society to understand these key messages-- become expert in them-- and *communicate* these to those who don't know/need help.
Don't wait around for an expert to tell you those basic things. You know them now.
Don't wait around for an expert to tell you those basic things. You know them now.
10/ Ironically, "experts" are saying the same.
In @TheLancet two days ago:
"Individual behaviour will be crucial to control the spread of #COVID19. Personal, rather than government action, in western democracies might be the most important issue."
thelancet.com/lancet/article…
In @TheLancet two days ago:
"Individual behaviour will be crucial to control the spread of #COVID19. Personal, rather than government action, in western democracies might be the most important issue."
thelancet.com/lancet/article…
11/ I recently spoke to a mentor @IngridKatzMD, who is an infectious disease doctor.
She brilliantly said, "What we need is communicators."
If you're an expert in something #COVID19 related, great! If you can't communicate that to a layperson, it doesn't matter right now.
She brilliantly said, "What we need is communicators."
If you're an expert in something #COVID19 related, great! If you can't communicate that to a layperson, it doesn't matter right now.
12/ As a writer and a doctor who cares for patients, I can tell you that *communication* is more key than anything I do clinically
Explaining medical concepts; delivering bad news; leading hospital teams; writing effective op-eds.
Whatever it may be- the glue is communication
Explaining medical concepts; delivering bad news; leading hospital teams; writing effective op-eds.
Whatever it may be- the glue is communication
14/ If "experts" continue failing to see the value in each individual person-- whether that is the President of a country or an uber driver or a janitor-- we will all be going down together.
Epidemics show us that we are only as strong as each person in our society.
#COVID19
Epidemics show us that we are only as strong as each person in our society.
#COVID19
15/ Have hardly had time to tweet recently, working 6am to midnight almost every day on #COVID19 in diff capacities.
From all of the reading/listening I have been doing from people in various sectors etc, this is the one message I really wanted to get out there today.
From all of the reading/listening I have been doing from people in various sectors etc, this is the one message I really wanted to get out there today.
