"Following a day of back-to-back lectures, I settled into my metal folding chair among thousands of doctors and scientists. My eyes darted between the medical society promotions projected on massive screens suspended above and the empty, blue-lit stage before us. I was ready for my formal welcoming to IDWeek, an annual conference for professionals in infectious disease medicine and research. Instead, I got a full-on Broadway show."
"At five minutes past 6 p.m., the stage went dark, and the excited chittering that first overtook the ballroom fell silent. Suddenly, a spotlight made way for a tuxedo-clad Javier Muñoz, the actor best-known as Alexander Hamilton from Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical. He broke out into a Hamilton song - reciting, I'm not throwin' away my shot - and whoops and applause followed."
"At the global conference, I met workers passionate about public health during a time riddled with uncertainty over the field's future: A handful of former and furloughed workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were in attendance, some giving talks as the government remained shut down. Seasoned and newly minted doctors spoke with deep conviction about their work, then commiserated over dried-up funding for it."
IDWeek opened with an unexpected Broadway-style moment before thousands of infectious-disease professionals, drawing attention amid formal sessions. Attendees included doctors, scientists, students, and several former or furloughed CDC workers who continued to present during a government shutdown. Conversations focused on strong commitment to public health alongside frustration over dried-up funding, poor pay, and uncertain career prospects. Seasoned clinicians and trainees exchanged experiences, commiserated about resource constraints, and highlighted the sustaining role of professional community. Networking and informal interactions provided emotional support and avenues for collaboration as participants sought ways to continue public-health work under constrained conditions.
Read at Business Insider
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