COVID-19 represents the most critical public health crisis of our lives. The Bloomberg School stepped up to the pandemic with dozens of new research projects, a completely changed educational environment, and a near-constant, authoritative presence in the media. The Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine team deeply felt the need to rise to the occasion as well. We committed to not just address short-term research findings, but to share lasting stories that would provide insights into the virus, and also document society’s plight and the challenges that would lie ahead. We included articles that explained how the pandemic affected a sex worker, a formerly incarcerated individual, a family fighting for their father’s life, a researcher in the Navajo nation—and many other people's stories.
In addition to focusing on the human side of the pandemic, we also brought the evidence that explained the challenges ahead, anticipating vaccine challenges, describing treatments for COVID-19, sharing the lessons learned from the pandemic, and explaining the unfolding science of genetic susceptibility. Finally, we aspired to produce a lasting publication that would be a chronicle of what it was like for us to live and work in the COVID times.
From the Judges
Compelling collage cover, opening, and overall structure that emphasizes the breadth of what's covered. Wonderful illustrations. It stands out that they highlighted the views of truly marginalized people–sex workers, incarcerated people, Native Americans–rather than just quoting professors.
