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Many @ubcspph faculty have signed this letter in response to the news released by @jarmstrongbc and @GlobalBC about holiday travel to #Hawaii by our director, Prof Peter Berman.
It has been sent to @ubcprez and @UBCmedicine.
Some of my thoughts & feelings are below.
1/n
It has been sent to @ubcprez and @UBCmedicine.
Some of my thoughts & feelings are below.
1/n
But first, starting off with the usual caveats:
- These are my personal views and opinions
- This does not reflect the views of my employer or SPPH/UBC
- My adjunct apptment at SPPH is in the process of renewal (expired Dec 2020). I completed my PhD at SPPH in 2019.
2/n
- These are my personal views and opinions
- This does not reflect the views of my employer or SPPH/UBC
- My adjunct apptment at SPPH is in the process of renewal (expired Dec 2020). I completed my PhD at SPPH in 2019.
2/n
To start, I don't know Prof Berman personally aside from some brief group interactions.
People make mistakes and they should not be reduced to their worst moments. We should have compassion and make room for ppl to come back from mistakes.
But, we also need accountability.
3/n
People make mistakes and they should not be reduced to their worst moments. We should have compassion and make room for ppl to come back from mistakes.
But, we also need accountability.
3/n
I & others were taken by complete surprise by this news. I felt a mix of disbelief, deep disappointment, and anger.
Many SPPH faculty and staff share in the public's outrage to the news as well as further disappointment by the (non-)responses that were released by UBC.
4/n
Many SPPH faculty and staff share in the public's outrage to the news as well as further disappointment by the (non-)responses that were released by UBC.
4/n
A key issue is privilege.
As noted in the letter, it is disturbing to see those in leadership take advantage of their privilege and act in ways that rupture solidarity, whether it was deliberate or not.
It is wrong, and we can all viscerally feel it.
5/n
As noted in the letter, it is disturbing to see those in leadership take advantage of their privilege and act in ways that rupture solidarity, whether it was deliberate or not.
It is wrong, and we can all viscerally feel it.
5/n
Academia & faculty members in general have a lot of privilege.
We have access to resources that help us address the challenges of current public health measures, that many others do not.
It is inequitable, we should own it, and also work to level the playing field.
6/n
We have access to resources that help us address the challenges of current public health measures, that many others do not.
It is inequitable, we should own it, and also work to level the playing field.
6/n
Public trust is at stake, and it's never been more important.
Public health leaders hold a unique position of trust and authority in a pandemic.
They should lead by example. At a minimum, this involves following the same public health guidelines as everyone else.
7/n
Public health leaders hold a unique position of trust and authority in a pandemic.
They should lead by example. At a minimum, this involves following the same public health guidelines as everyone else.
7/n
When our leaders act in ways that are hypocritical, this fuels distrust and misinformation.
It harms our collective ability to sustain the drastic measures needed to contain COVID-19. And it diminishes the voice and cred of public health to cont to call for these measures.
8/n
It harms our collective ability to sustain the drastic measures needed to contain COVID-19. And it diminishes the voice and cred of public health to cont to call for these measures.
8/n
The actions of Prof Berman also directly contradict the efforts of our faculty working in public health and healthcare.
Many SPPH faculty have been working daily for months, directly at the forefront of the pandemic response, incl our provincial health officer.
9/n
Many SPPH faculty have been working daily for months, directly at the forefront of the pandemic response, incl our provincial health officer.
9/n
Others have been doing research to understand COVID-19, its impact to the healthcare system and population, on unintended consequences, in teaching, in public health capacity-building, and more.
Prof Berman's actions impact all of us.
10/n
Prof Berman's actions impact all of us.
10/n
It is not a question that he should know better - he did.
Yet, he acted against his better judgement anyway while we've been asking everyone else to do their part.
11/n
Yet, he acted against his better judgement anyway while we've been asking everyone else to do their part.
11/n
What has been released so far is not enough - it is a starting point to repairing the damage and earning back the lost trust & confidence.
I hope to see further communications and engagement in this process and await next steps.
/fin
I hope to see further communications and engagement in this process and await next steps.
/fin
