Call for Change After Hopkins Research Uncovers Pervasive Harassment of Health Officials – CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Over the past two years, we’ve heard of teachers and staff essentially leaving due to burnout. But a new report from Johns Hopkins says some public health workers are considering their career futures after facing harassment since the pandemic began.

“It’s unacceptable,” said Dr. Beth Resnick of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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Researchers at the school found that during the first year of the pandemic across Maryland and the United States, there were nearly 1500 reports of identified harassment

Research shows that 57% of local public health departments surveyed have been targets of harassment.

It shows that 222 public health officials left their positions during that time period.

According to research, more than a third of people who have left their jobs (36%) said they have experienced some form of harassment.

Health officials say it’s a wake-up call.

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“Someone out there is doing their job to protect the health of the community so there’s no need to feel threatened or underappreciated in doing their job,” Dr. Resnick said.

Last year, former Harford County Health Officer Dr. David Bishai was fired from his position. He told WJZ that he was suddenly terminated after campaigning for a vaccine and wearing a mask.

“It was not only the political voices they heard that hindered my ability to do the work I was committed to,” he said. “They stopped the work I was committed to.”

Now, Dr. Resnick is calling for change. She wants to see the protection of the law and the national reporting system.

“We need to figure out how, in the future, we can prevent this and protect workers,” she said.

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Baltimore County Public Health Officer Dr. Gregory Branch told WJZ on Thursday that he supports a bill that would hold people accountable if they harass a public health official or someone that in health care.