The Only Constant

Change. The only constant is change. My team has heard me utter these words time and time again. But who knew how much change we would have to endure during the pandemic.

We have had to reinvent how we provide clinical care to our patients, how we teach our learners, how we advance our research, how we meet, with even more administrative barriers than ever before.

We have had to turn our social construct on its head as we isolated ourselves from people and limit our exposure to even those we love the most, even when they needed us most.

I continue to have to engage my young pediatric patients in the emergency department wearing full PPE and unfortunately for them, I've resorted to singing. I see colleagues and team members on screens and not in 3 D. Virtual hugs are just not the same. I second (third and fourth) guess myself anytime I think of having a face-to-face event or traveling for work or socially.

My coping mechanism was to keep my life as simple as possible to balance out the challenging world around me. I have learned what is truly important to me, what gives me purpose and joy.

I realize now that I was wrong. There is another constant. People. I continue to be so amazed by the incredible clinicians, teachers, researchers, and leaders who are part of our academic medicine community, who despite everything, have continued to care and to contribute in amazing ways. People make it happen – no matter what and too often at whatever the cost.

I am committed to making the best of this changed world and remind myself of how grateful I am to be surrounded by my incredible colleagues, friends, and family.