Columnists
The New Rock Stars
When people dream of becoming doctors, they traditionally think about becoming cancer researchers, transplant surgeons or paediatricians. Public health hasn’t been near the top of the list. But courtesy of the present pandemic, public health professionals like epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists are our new rock stars.
Exhibit “A” for the new profile of public health personalities is Anthony Fauci, the American who delivers the straight goods whether Donald Trump likes it or not. Fauci is so popular that he has inspired not one but two action figures—a bobblehead doll and a plush toy. There are even petitions to designate him the “Sexiest Man Alive.”
But we have our own public health rock stars in Canada, First of all, there is Theresa Tam, our national chief public health officer, who goes to the microphones every day to roll out the latest grim statistics, but who sports a gaudy jacket to put a stamp of personality into her otherwise dry performances. A line of Tshirts bearing her likeness is now available.
And how about British Columbia’s provincial health officer Bonnie Henry. She, with the support of health minister Adrian Dix, has been receiving plaudits for her calm and controlled presentations and her decisive interventions at long-term care facilities. Dr, Henry has now been recognized with a tribute shoe. Designer John Fluevog is launching a limited edition “Dr. Henry” model, featuring a two-tone pink heel, patent leather accents, interlacing and a buckle, stamped with Dr. Henry’s signature message “Be kind, be calm and be safe.” Proceeds will go to Food Banks B.C.
Alberta chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw is not far behind. She wore a dress bearing the periodic table of the elements that led to a run on the item at the BC clothing maker that supplied her.
There are plenty of other public health personalities to pick out. For example, in Ontario, you have the twoperson team of David Williams and Barbara Yaffe doing their Clark Kent and Lois Lane routine every day. In Toronto, you have the earnest presentations and dire warnings of medical officer of health Eileen de Villa. And in Nova Scotia you have the folksy demeanour of chief medical officer of health Robert Strang.
Two other figures have stood out to me for their willingness to deliver expert comment over the home-tostudio video links. Dr Isaac Bogoch from the University of Toronto seems to be everywhere and always to have something useful to say. And Dr. Lynora Saxinger from the University of Alberta always speaks to the point and maintains her good humour.
So let’s celebrate our new crop of rock stars with some bold initiatives. For example, why doesn’t Kelloggs publish a series of baseball cards featuring top public health officials and put them in Corn Flakes boxes? We could then face the challenge to “collect all 25 cards” before getting sick of the product. We could do some old-fashioned aftermarket trading in school playgrounds with our friends—assuming the time will come when schools resume, playgrounds can be played in again and we can interact with our friends at a distance of less than two metres.
Or perhaps we could develop a line of public health action figures. I was in a toy store a few years ago and saw a librarian action figure, captured in the act of saying “shussssh.” If they can make action figures of librarians, we ought to be able to produce a whole set of public health action figures poring over graphs, talking to computers while wearing earplugs and speaking to batteries of microphones at press conferences.
Perhaps the CBC could develop a docudrama based on the events of this spring and featuring characters drawn from our public health personalities. Depending upon how long the pandemic runs, Coronavirus Avenue could have the staying power of Coronation Street.
Let’s hope our public health personalities don’t rush to monetize their newfound celebrity status. It’s not as if they are professional athletes, who are expected to cash in quickly on their notoriety because success is fleeting. I don’t particularly want to see Bonnie Henry endorsing American Express cards or David Strang touting the benefits of Head and Shoulders shampoo.
Let’s also hope that rock star status doesn’t put the idea in their heads that they should lead lives of wretched excess because that is what rock stars do. It would be anathema to their brand. And it would take them out of service—a service we, including the cancer researchers, transplant surgeons and paediatricians, very much need them to continue providing.
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