Dear SPH community,
First of all, I’d like to wish our whole SPH family -- the students, staff, faculty, alums, and friends -- all the best for the Thanksgiving holiday. In these difficult times, may you celebrate and be aware of the good things that surround us and enjoy a bit of a break.
As Thanksgiving week begins, I want to recognize and thank the many people, including our SPH students, staff and faculty, whose passion and dedication to public health inspires me and gives me optimism for the future.
Throughout the pandemic, the public health workforce has demonstrated tremendous resilience in facing perilous situations and sometimes antagonistic reactions by a portion of the public and political leaders and media personalities. They’ve shown skill and fortitude in facing present challenges, meeting the needs of communities across the nation and preparing for future public health crises.
Likewise, our students, staff and faculty members have adapted to the challenges of the past 20 months and continued to learn, engage with communities, teach and conduct research. I know it hasn’t been easy. We have learned that seamless campus-community collaborations are critical to address health and well-being for all.
Today, Monday, November 22, 2021, we join Research!America and leading public health organizations, as well as public health advocates from across the nation, to thank all the dedicated individuals that work to keep our communities safe and thriving. As we continue to respond and recover, let’s together express our gratitude for their strength and resolve.
In Maryland, our state and county public health workforce have helped our state fight the pandemic and rank among the top ten states with the most people who have received their COVID-19 vaccines. There’s still more work to do, yet we can be grateful for how far we’ve come. With commitment and ingenuity, every day these public health heroes also respond to emergencies, combat opioid and drug abuse, promote maternal and child health, create awareness of how to prevent chronic disease, correct health misinformation, and prepare for future health crises, among their many challenges.
Public health personnel work in many places, from community clinics to health departments to university classrooms and research labs. They help protect us from viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, ensure we have clean water and air and help us recover from natural disasters. Now, more than ever, we need to support our public health system and all those who have dedicated themselves to doing public health good.
In 2021, as the most dangerous pandemic in a century continues to be a part of our lives, our gratitude is immense.
Show your thanks to our public health heroes today!
Here’s how you can get involved:
- Visit the PHTYD website at www.PublicHealthThankYouDay.org
- Use social media! Share a gratitude post TODAY using the hashtag #PHTYD.
- Download customizable resources and consider presenting a certificate to someone you’d like to recognize.
Join us in saying thanks! And most importantly, be safe and stay healthy!
Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH
Dean and Professor