HEALTH RESEARCH IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

It was in March 2020 when we first got our acts together for COVID-19 pandemic response, activating the COVID-19 Incident Command System and making lists on lists of things to do and checklists for logistics, creating algorithms and reviewing guidelines, frantically searching for research journal articles on this virus (most were in Chinese at that time). We feared what we didn't know. These days, we still don't want to get COVID-19 severe or critical pneumonia, but the chances of survival are greater because we know more about this disease now than we did back in the first quarter of 2020. Today, we even have vaccines that protect against severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

The oratio imperata for the protection against COVID-19 also prays for the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission. In our basic health research class, we have an assignment to talk about our hero clinician-researcher whom we idolize. In outcome-based education, we have to keep the end in mind. So, we stand on the shoulders of giants to provide us with a vision of where we want to go and who we want to be.

Tonight, we look at the status of health research in the time of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced a lot of changes in how we do things - virtual meetings, online classes, food deliveries, cashless transactions and covered faces in public. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect health research in the country? How do we move forward and create engineering changes to allow us to safely live WITH COVID-19?

Last week, the Philippine Virology Institute called for a meeting with alumni association of UP (UPMASA), the National Institute for Health, DOST-PCHRD, the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) and different deans of the colleges of medicine, as well as the Philippine High School faculty and administration. As research efforts take a turbo boost forward to solve problems thru collaboration, networking, training and technology transfer, we look forward to exciting times when the country prioritizes and promotes careers in health research.

Join us tonight at #HealthXPH 9PM MLA time as we discuss health research in the time of COVID-19:

T1. Tell the story of a health researcher/clinician-scientist who inspires you.

T2. This COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted health research and health systems policy development. Suggest research programs needed to fill gaps in helping us live with COVID-19.

T3. How can we encourage young researchers to pursue a career in health research?