4,919,755. What's in a number? Well, we know that's a big number, but it's also abstract. What's in a number? I would say everything, when your loved one is reflected in that figure of 4,919,755 deaths due to COVID-19 as of October 2021. 1 How do we convey the weight of this number? We are all impacted by this global situation. We've all had losslost health, loss of a loved one or colleague, economic hardship, extreme stress. We've all suffered. And at the same time, we've been held away from each other by social distancing and masks, missing our ways as human beings to replenish and comfort each other by not being able to share physical contact and connection.The pandemic has made us, forced us, to question all of our assumptions. Who are we as a people? How are we doing in this greatest challenge of our time? We're all sharing in the same global event with all our own unique perspectives and experiences. How have you grown? Changed? Where will you be when all of this is over and we emerge on the other side? Will we have a Brave New World? Will sharing a global calamity provide an opportunity to bring us together in a way that nothing has before? The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) themes this year-"Compassion, Culture, and Courage"-are intended to be touchstones in this journey to our Brave New World.What's in a name? Brave New World:Oh, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous humankind is! Oh, how Brave New World that has such people in it. 2