Pandemic Spotlight - Canadian Doctors at the Front of the Covid-19 Fight

"Eminent CBC journalist Ian Hanomansing profiles the Canadian doctors who stepped up to guide the nation through its worst medical crisis in a century. Most medical doctors, are accustomed to living lives of quiet dedication far from the public eye. What is it like for conscientious professionals like them when a country panicked by pandemic is suddenly beating down their doors desperate for answers? One of the remarkable features of the Covid-19 pandemic is the strength and compassion of the previously low-profile doctors who took to the public stage to lead the bewildered nation through the pandemic, counteracting misinformation and articulating the most up-to-date medical advice on avoiding infection and reducing viral transmission. British Columbia Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry attracted international attention for her calm, empathetic and evidence-based approach. Ontario infectious disease specialists Dr. Zain Chagla and Dr. Sumon Chakrabati advocated passionately for effective measures within the South Asian community disproportionately affected by the virus. Dr. Lisa Barrett and her infectious disease colleagues at Dalhousie University lobbied to set up rapid testing in places like bars, sports centres and university campuses in order to detect those unwittingly spreading the virus and to provide an early warning of potential outbreaks. Hanomansing captures the perspective and insights of doctors from coast to coast who accepted roles as public advocates and advisors, exploring the impact of unaccustomed celebrity as well as the skepticism, resistance and even hostility that sometimes went as far as death threats from Covid-deniers. Few of the stories to come out of the pandemic are as inspiring as this one of the doctors, scientists and health officials who transcended their accustomed roles to become public symbols of trust and hope. As they prepare to return to their private careers, they respond to Hanomansings invitation to detail lessons learned and measures that need to be taken to improve the response to future deadly pandemics."--

Info autore

Ian Hanomansing is a co-host of CBC¿s The National and has been a journalist for more than thirty years. He lives in Vancouver, BC.

Riassunto

CBC journalist Ian Hanomansing profiles Canadian infectious disease doctors who stepped up to guide the nation through its worst medical crisis in a century.

Canadians who have followed the news about the COVID-19 pandemic will recognize the names of doctors Lisa Barrett, Isaac Bogoch, Zain Chagla, Sumon Chakrabarti, Susy Hota, Fatima Kakkar, Srinivas Murthy, Lynora Saxinger and Alexander Wong—nine remarkable Canadians who found themselves in the spotlight during a remarkably challenging year.

While dealing with their own personal concerns about the worsening pandemic and their busy medical practices, the doctors profiled in Pandemic Spotlight volunteered their time and offered their expertise in hundreds of media interviews, providing calm, clear and independent analysis. Hanomansing talks to them about what inspired them to become doctors and what led them to specialize in infectious diseases and then take on this very public role.

The doctors discuss the moment the pandemic became very real to them and speak candidly about what it was like when infections raged out of control in Italy and then New York City, leaving doctors at Canadian hospitals to wonder what might be next. And they explain the sense of duty they felt to step into the media glare, even as public anxiety and skepticism sometimes turned into hostility and social media made them easy to contact and, sometimes, easy targets. And for anyone who’s been asked to offer their expertise to the media, they have advice on how to answer the call.

There are a few silver linings in the COVID storm. One of them is how these doctors put science front and centre and became public symbols of trust and hope. As they prepare to return to their private careers, they respond to Hanomansing’s invitation to reflect on lessons learned and their concerns about the next pandemic.



All author royalties from sales of the book will go to UBC’s Centre for Health Education Scholarship.

Testo aggiuntivo

"Timely, informative, inspiring." -Midwest Book Review

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Ian Hanomansing
• Editore: Douglas & Mcintyre Ltd
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 31.03.2022, ritardato
• EAN: 9781771622929
• ISBN: 978-1-77162-292-9
• Pagine: 224
• Categorie: Scienze naturali, medicina, informatica, tecnica > Medicina > Tematiche generali; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Disease & Health Issues, HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases / Contagious (incl. Pandemics)