an oath
lately, I’ve been unable to stop thinking about the oath I swore, when I started in this world of public health. the idea of an oath seems strangely medieval to me, of a time before this one, but then time has become so elastic that maybe it’s of this one too.
but as the pandemic wears on and the uprisings and protests continue (thanks to astonishing political inaction, blatant dismissal of science, and a racist ableist disregard for human lives, but I digress), as joys and horrors alike keep happening on such global and sidewalk scales - I keep finding myself back at the words of this oath.
Health is a human right. The public health community exists to safeguard that right. I believe it is a defining element of a civil society. Public health represents the collective actions necessary to protect the health of all people. Through prevention science and practice we can accomplish this goal. As a public health professional, guided by these principles, I declare the following:
I will work to ensure that people have the chance to live full and productive lives, free from avoidable disease, injury, and disability and supported in their pursuit of physical, mental, and social well-being.
I will hold myself to the highest ethics, standards, values, and responsibilities as I move forward the science and practice of public health.
I will respect the rights, values, beliefs, and cultures of those individuals and communities with whom I work.
I will rely on evidence to support my decisions and actions, and translate that evidence into policies and programs that improve health for all.
I will add to the body of research and knowledge and share my discoveries freely.
I will continuously seek new information and be open to ideas that can better protect and promote the health of populations.
I will advance health literacy for all and seek equity and justice for vulnerable populations.
With this oath, I commit to the ideals and mission of public health.
a few medicines for late summer:
i drove across the country, sang this album on repeat for company
on caste and race and class and matchmaking and the diaspora
an intense and in-depth analysis of US pandemic response
beaded glasses of nimbu pani, all august long