Authored by Dr. Ayo Olufade I recently read an article titled “A year after layoffs, former federal workers are still piecing their lives back together” (https://share.newsbreak.com/ii7b2x5d). It broke my heart, but it also felt deeply, achingly familiar. I know the quiet desperation of that space. I spent years in intense academic training, preparing my mind for high-level scientific research. My dream was to work at the NIH. But when the rug was pulled out from under me, an