Another Health Career Done!

I was laid off 2 weeks ago. It was not a surprise and a surprise. I work at the state health department, and the current Federal administration decided that the grant that funded me was no longer necessary. Seeing the lay offs/firings that were occurring since January I thought it was only a matter of time before they got around to me, and so many others. In that sense it wasn't a surprise. It was a surprise because I thought I would have some sort of notice before I was let go, and I thought it would be more humanely done. Nope.

No one from leadership said a word beforehand. I opened up my personal email late one evening and there was a form email saying the funding had been "rescinded". Your last day of work was-today. I texted my supervisor to tell her I had been let go, and she responded that she was sorry. The next email from the health department was directions on how to return my equipment. No acknowledgement that I had been laid off, no apology that this had happened, just a heartless email about how it would be more convenient for staff if the equipment was dropped off on a Monday. That was it.

I worked in public health for over a decade and worked in so many aspects of public health. I learned how to investigate foodborne outbreaks, gave hepatitis B vaccinations to those who were imprisoned, worked in decreasing hospital acquired infections, maternal mortality and HIV. I worked with amazing, hardworking and brilliant people. I made many lifelong friends.

I was angry because of how I was laid off, not that I was laid off. What I noticed about anger though is that it never ends, it just feeds on itself. I can be angry at certain individuals but it doesn't lead to anything useful. And I also know that while the layoffs could have been handled in a much more professional and kinder manner, no one I work with was happy about the layoffs. So I was angry for about 48 hours and then, thankfully, I let it go.

In spite of all this I know I'm lucky. I have a spouse that is working so I have time to figure out my next move. The work I did was good, decent work but it was not a huge part of my identity. I was also no longer interested in moving up the leadership ladder, I did that once and it was a big mistake. I'm pretty sure my public health, medicine career is over, and I'm actually okay with that.