Attn @PresidentATS@CHESTPrez, @SCCMPresident - societies that hold conferences in states unsafe for women, LGBTQ, minorities, will lose them.
This👇🏼is already happening!
The following thread is inspired by
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Prof Jamieson for courage & leadership #ConferenceLocation🧵
1/n When I posted my 11 tweets about going to national/international conferences in locations that have draconian #AbortionBans, I thought this was temporary, that societies, while having past commitments, will recognize this as an issue and change future locations. I was wrong
4/n
I understand that societies have contractual limitations & financial constrains. I think they are underestimating the damage; the loss of trust, moral & ethical standing, the undermining of diversity efforts, the harm to membership. Also it is a threat to the societies. Why?
5/n
Holding a conference in Florida or Texas could be a huge financial risk. There are now 3 travel advisories for Florida from major civil rights & equity group. This could ⬇️ attendance both nationally & internationally which could be disastrous.
The travel advisories are:
6/n
Equity Florida, the largest LGBTQ organization in Florida just issued a travel advisory “warning of the risks posed to the health, safety, and freedom of those considering short or long term travel, or relocation to the state” eqfl.org/florida-travel…
7/n
Florida Immigrant Coalition issued a similar travel advisory because of unconstitutional legislation. citing racial profiling and risks of false arrest. searches for minorities even if naturalized floridatraveladvisory.com
8/n
The NAACP Florida State Conference issued a recommendation for a travel advisory to the NAACP board of directors. If the national board accepts it - would any of us be willing to visit Florida? naacp.org/articles/naacp…
9/n these travel advisories, are, I think a game changer. Would anybody in their right mind encourage an early career or trainee that belongs to at risk identities (women, LGBTQ, minority) to submit an abstract, knowing it’s unsafe for them to go?
9/n
And things are getting worst in Florida a bill would allow doctors, health insurance companies to deny care to anyone based on moral, ethical, religious issues targeting women, people of color, LGBTQ (I’m a Jew, I know where this is going) newrepublic.com/post/172124/fl…
10/n
So what do we do? I guess if you reached this point in 🧵 - you can guess what I think. Societies should not hold conferences in locations with policies that discriminate against or put at risk a subset of their membership because of their religion, race, gender. But how?
11/n Most important - Do NOT give up too early: Professional Societies are the sum of its members. Society leaders may look determined - but truth is they know, that holding conferences in unsafe locations is wrong. Most are great people, that’s how they got to be leaders, I know
12/n
The problem is their role, the perception that they are defending the society by compromising on morals, ethics, safety, inclusion & diversity.
Membership can counter that, support them to do the right thing. The first thing is to request a joint action of all societies
14/n
They should create a joint task force of @atscommunity@SCCM@accpchest@PCCSMChiefs@APCCMPD with representative for communities at risk, women, LGBTQ, minorities, early career, others, find ways to do the right thing, instead of finding excuses why not to do it. Simple
15/n
I wrote this 🧵 because I love our professional societies, I served, sponsored, fundraised, also I know, appreciate & love the staff, members & leaders. Therefore, I call on all, let’s find a way do the right thing. It’s doable. I’m here to help
Fin. #ConferenceLocation
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1/n
This is a 🧵about events that happened 40 years ago in Israel.
I was a freshman student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem & attended a demonstration.
The demonstration ended with the murder of Emil Grunzweig, an Israeli teacher & peace activist. #RememberEmil
2/n The demonstration was against Israel’s criminal war on Lebanon, requesting accountability for those responsible for the Sabra & Shatila Massacre. We gathered in Jerusalem’s city center, marched with torches to hold a vigil near the Prime Minister's Office #RememberEmil
3/n Our march encountered violent Rt wing counterprotests. I still remember the hateful faces, the spitting, the friends who got beaten, I also remember the “It’s a pity Hitler did not finish the work” Shouts. These were Jews shouting. I will never forget that. #RememberEmil
1/n September Pulmonary Fibrosis controversy thread about #IPFandGERD preprint from Dr. Cosetta Minelli's group: Two tweets from really good people say "GERD Causes IPF" (@IPFdoc, @drcjar), and a 3rd (@LungDrE) says: "Not based on your data".
3/n #IPFandGERD Paper obviously needs #PeerReview. But there is context.
As a non-expert, in reading Mendelian Randomization studies I go back to the superb Guide to reading Mendelian randomization studies from Prof Davey Smith & team. Especially that 👇🏼 bmj.com/content/362/bm…
1/n So, what do I think, as a non-expert, son to holocaust survivors, about @VPrasadMDMPH's article, claiming #COVID19 restrictions could be used as blueprint for a future totalitarian regime, his analogy to Hitler's rise in Germany. @GYamey says it better
2/n Frankly, not much. My approach is, if you want to understand threats to democracy go to experts (I am not, @VPrasadMDMPH is DEFINITELY NOT) there are really good books, like @TimothyDSnyder's #OnTyranny. Check out this clip
1/n This thread is not about Medicine, Science or Lung Disease. It’s about what you should ask when when you hear about another cycle of violence in #IsraelPalestine. Written in #Solidarity with the Jews & Arabs who today stand together against racism & hate #TrueHeroes
2/n When people speak about “country x’s right to defend itself” - what you should ask, does the leadership of country x have the right to provoke violence? and do the actions taken really constitute defense or serve another agenda? #KnowWhatToAsk#IsraelPalestine
3/n When they say but “look at the violence in the streets by the minority ” - what you should ask, is what has been done to the minority , how many have been dispossessed, killed without recourse, disenfranchised and for how long? #IsraelPalestine#EndTheOppression
1/n Usually we invite friends/colleagues to our SEDER, but no guests last & this year. Inspired by FB comment by @gregggonsalves I thought it’d be fun to share our dishes with #MedTwitter friends as if we’re together - see following thread #PCCMEats#HappyPassover2021
2/n Every item on the Seder Plate has a symbolic meaning in the ceremonial retelling of the Exodus story - except the Orange, a recent addition dedicated to #inclusion of those marginalized in traditional religions (women, LGBTQ) #NKsSederTweetorial#PCCMEats#HappyPassover2021
3/n The bitter & spicy taste of horseradish, fresh taste of greens & Sweet & earthy look of Harosset all symbolize aspects of the story - but biggest mystery is how well they fit together in a Matzah sandwich - or is it not? #NKsSederTweetorial#PCCMEats#HappyPassover2021
2/n As expected, type-1 IFN signature dominates all cell types (with a uniquely IFN-activated CD8 T cell cluster). The signature correlates strongly with initial viral load and in repeated samples with time #COVID19#Covid19CellAtlasmedrxiv.org/content/10.110…
3/n A skewed immunopralysis like anti-inflammatory signature is found in monocytes of #COVID19 progressive patients, connectome analysis suggested disrupted connectivity between LAG3 and MHC signalling medrxiv.org/content/10.110…