Critical Situations

"You are the next generation of leaders in this country, and you know that you cannot ignore your role in the world. You cannot put your heads in the sand; you cannot pretend that what happens in this world won't affect this country and won't affect each and every one of you and your families and your friends. My message to you is very simple. What you do, what you say, how you react to critical situations defines not just the moment, but it defines and shapes you.” Christiane Amanpour 1997 Commencement Speech at Emory University

It's Memorial Day... and I'm thinking.

There's so much divisiveness in our country today. - I find this really sad and egregiously disheartening.

On this day, I'd rather think about the men and women across our nation who continue to dedicate their careers (and potentially their lives) to serving others in our United States Armed Forces — even when, like D-Day (or any other battle or mission), the goal is not easy because of the difficulties and challenges involved.

My friend Mort (who died a few years ago) was one of the Army soldiers who landed on Normandy Beach. I can't imagine what that must have been like for him. He was onboard a landing craft with men from different towns and cities all over our country, men with different backgrounds, spiritual beliefs, and cultural differences—but on this day, all with one common goal: to secure the beach.

One common goal: secure the beach.

Their mission took days and thousands of casualties.

September 11th, 2001: Several passengers boarded United Airlines Flight 93 to San Francisco. Their common goal was to land safely in San Francisco, CA. The plane was hijacked. The 44 passengers on board tried to overtake the hijackers to prevent the plane from flying to its final destination - potentially the U.S. Capitol or The White House. They were successful in preventing the plane from reaching its destination - sadly, at the expense of all of the passengers and crew losing their lives.

June 11th, 2016: A shooter enters the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and starts shooting people in the club who are with friends and loved ones. 3 1/2 hours later, the shooter was contained, and 49 of the club's patrons were dead. Meanwhile, the team at Orlando Health had shown up for their shifts that evening (as healthcare teams do in any of the 5000-ish hospitals located throughout our country), never knowing who would come through the doors of their Emergency Department. Their common goal: To save the lives of the patients in their care.

The video below describes what happened next to the patients and clinical team working at Orlando Health:

Whenever I am traveling - sitting at the gate at the airport waiting to board my flight, I look around at everyone seated near me (or yes, sometimes just walking by with their families), and I wonder - if something happened, what would they do? How would they help? How would I help them? How would I react to any of the critical situations that happen frequently in our country?

In my 30-year healthcare career, I have worked as a crisis clinician and navigator in 7 emergency departments at hospitals on the East Coast. I've had the incredible opportunity to help patients and families (and the teams I've worked with) navigate some immensely challenging moments. And - even sitting with families who have lost their loved ones who have died in our ED or ICU, I have seen and heard story after story about who they were as fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, partners. I have always remained inspired by the stories I have heard.

When I think of how I would (and have) responded to critical situations, my hope is to continue to assist people with the compassion, empathy, tact, and insight I have used throughout my career. These skills have remained prevalent in my family throughout my life—the legacy that's been handed down from my mom and dad, their moms and dads.

This brings me back to our country's legacy as a result of those who have come before us—our family members who have served our country and the communities where we live because of the work they have done in helping others "breathe a little easier," as Ralph Waldo Emerson once said.

I hope that as the lessons, wisdom, insight, and experiences are handed down from generation to generation within our families, we will use these lessons to help all of us achieve our common goals.

Life is short; spend time with the people you love the most. Foster a legacy of honor and integrity (and some great stories to inspire others).

If you (or family members) have served in the military, Thank you.

Thanks Dad.

#healthcare #personaldevelopment #culture #military