Science is back in the house!

Among the dozens of delighted commentaries on the election I've read, this one particularly struck me. Katelyn Jetelina, a student of public health and epidemiology, writes Your Local Epidemiologist.  She sees a different Congress:

 ... last night, I saw a STEM wave. More U.S. scientists and physicians ran for state and federal office this cycle than ever before. And many won:

    •    A pediatrician in South Carolina
    •    A public health physician in Michigan
    •    A microbiologist in Georgia
    •    A nuclear engineer in Virginia
    •    A physician in Ohio
    •    An ER nurse in Wisconsin
    •    An environmental engineer in Iowa
    •    A mathematician in Illinois
    •    A physician in New Jersey

The United States said clearly: Health matters. Science matters. Integrity matters. Empathy matters. People matter.

But let’s not forget: change matters. Many of these candidates weren’t focused on defense or the status quo. And rightfully so. We cannot go back to 2019. We cannot go back to 2024. 

The health ecosystem was not working for people. It was built for another time and has failed everyone for years. We need an alternative path forward from the one we’ve been on for the past 20 years, and the one we're on now.

This means it’s time for something bigger than repair. It’s not just about putting the pieces back together; it’s about reimagining what’s possible, and, quite frankly, what’s needed.

Let's get behind these people and let them lead. Their rise is not a moment too soon for the country.