A job well done, Chana

Boulder County is losing one of the finest public health professionals with the departure of

Chana Goussetis.

Chana is Boulder County Public Health’s communication officer and has been on the front line of so many disease outbreaks in our community over the years. I trust her information and guidance along with the best practitioners in the field.

I was happy that you acknowledged her ser vice with its placement on the front page. Further, you honored the value of her efforts by shining a light on the often-underappreciated work of public health.

In this past year most of us have experienced discouragement, burnout and fatigue along the way. It has been no less for our front-line workers.

Professionals like Chana and others have experienced this and more.

They have also had to endure the daily insults, verbal attacks, noncompliance and just plain meanness of people who don’t want to cooperate with official directives.

Honestly, that has to leave you worn-out. This is the reason why public health personnel have resigned in large numbers over the past year, leaving our public health infrastructure even more vulnerable, losing critical people and needed expertise.

On a personal note, I hope Chana regains her strength and vitality with some much-needed rest and self-care. She deser ves a break and time for recuperation. I thank her for her courageous work.

Burnout among health care workers is a real thing and needs to be treated compassionately and appropriately. As a longtime public health nurse, I am incredibly proud of our local public health organization. The quality of the work and the dedication of its staff are unrivaled.

We need to support their efforts and make sure they have the resources to do their best work and to help the community thrive.

HELEN MAJZLER

Boulder