Thanks for your post.
My biggest surprise from the pandemic was the failure of the institutions I had always trusted, which was deeply disappointing. I realized, we were more competent than the decision makers and took on additional responsibility. My husband, Alex D, is an epidemiologist in risk assessment/early warning. In early 2020 he was trying to warn our (Can) government about Covid and did ‘crazy’ things like refused to shake people’s hands, and brought in a basket on handmade masks to work at the emergency operations centre. He’s now had 4 promotions since 2020 and is in private sector, so at least people recognized an excellent decision maker after the fact.
As a physician, I took on more responsibility at the hospital and try to overturn rules such as that we’re not allowed to open the windows (for better ventilation), I told my staff to wear masks and did myself, when it ‘wasn’t necessary’. We were relatively well positioned to make changes, as mid career professionals in institutions and it was still frustratingly non-responsive. Ideally, we’d have a relay team of rational ‘adults’ in a position to effect change, with even more power than we had, each taking turns sprinting. In my experience, some competent people have risen up through the ranks, while others have burned out—turns out, adulting is exhausting.
I agree, after living these institutional failures, the EA community gives me hope.
Thanks for your post. My biggest surprise from the pandemic was the failure of the institutions I had always trusted, which was deeply disappointing. I realized, we were more competent than the decision makers and took on additional responsibility. My husband, Alex D, is an epidemiologist in risk assessment/early warning. In early 2020 he was trying to warn our (Can) government about Covid and did ‘crazy’ things like refused to shake people’s hands, and brought in a basket on handmade masks to work at the emergency operations centre. He’s now had 4 promotions since 2020 and is in private sector, so at least people recognized an excellent decision maker after the fact. As a physician, I took on more responsibility at the hospital and try to overturn rules such as that we’re not allowed to open the windows (for better ventilation), I told my staff to wear masks and did myself, when it ‘wasn’t necessary’. We were relatively well positioned to make changes, as mid career professionals in institutions and it was still frustratingly non-responsive. Ideally, we’d have a relay team of rational ‘adults’ in a position to effect change, with even more power than we had, each taking turns sprinting. In my experience, some competent people have risen up through the ranks, while others have burned out—turns out, adulting is exhausting. I agree, after living these institutional failures, the EA community gives me hope.