From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was a worldwide crisis with significant impact on professional, economic, and social well-being. In medical academics, researchers were hampered by the need to provide critical support to pandemic efforts at their institutions, while balancing rapid communication of information...

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Main Authors: Lori B. Lerner, Richard Naspro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:COVID
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/6/80
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author Lori B. Lerner
Richard Naspro
author_facet Lori B. Lerner
Richard Naspro
author_sort Lori B. Lerner
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description The COVID-19 pandemic was a worldwide crisis with significant impact on professional, economic, and social well-being. In medical academics, researchers were hampered by the need to provide critical support to pandemic efforts at their institutions, while balancing rapid communication of information that could impact practices and inform behavior. Autoethnography as a research method was employed by many early on as a means of characterizing aspects of the COVID-19 response. Two surgeons from heavily hit areas early in the epidemic—Bergamo, Italy, and Boston, the United States—entered into an online, virtual, professional relationship that helped them both endure the pandemic and inform their institutions and communities. Their relationship influenced practices across the United States and beyond. This paper explores how the principles of autoethnography as a valid, essential and important method of research can lead to significant impacts during times of crises.
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spelling doaj-art-b8a2fa3ae6494311bddd1ef0657e40f22025-08-20T03:26:52ZengMDPI AGCOVID2673-81122025-05-01568010.3390/covid5060080From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID PandemicLori B. Lerner0Richard Naspro1VA Boston Healthcare System, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USAUrology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, ItalyThe COVID-19 pandemic was a worldwide crisis with significant impact on professional, economic, and social well-being. In medical academics, researchers were hampered by the need to provide critical support to pandemic efforts at their institutions, while balancing rapid communication of information that could impact practices and inform behavior. Autoethnography as a research method was employed by many early on as a means of characterizing aspects of the COVID-19 response. Two surgeons from heavily hit areas early in the epidemic—Bergamo, Italy, and Boston, the United States—entered into an online, virtual, professional relationship that helped them both endure the pandemic and inform their institutions and communities. Their relationship influenced practices across the United States and beyond. This paper explores how the principles of autoethnography as a valid, essential and important method of research can lead to significant impacts during times of crises.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/6/80onlineCOVID-19crisisrelationshipautoethnography
spellingShingle Lori B. Lerner
Richard Naspro
From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic
COVID
online
COVID-19
crisis
relationship
autoethnography
title From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic
title_full From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic
title_fullStr From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic
title_short From Bergamo to Boston—5 Years Later: Autoethnography and the COVID Pandemic
title_sort from bergamo to boston 5 years later autoethnography and the covid pandemic
topic online
COVID-19
crisis
relationship
autoethnography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/6/80
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