TSMD - June 2021 Newsletter
June Greetings
Sunday, June 20, is the first day of Summer 2021. It is a season I have always loved. The warmth feels restorative. My twins, Connor and Kiernan, were born in June. And with the summer comes an invitation to play, to reconnect with hobbies, friends, and family. We are invited to reawaken our sense of possibility and joy, to be open to whatever comes next.
Perhaps you may feel some apprehension about reentering society. The transitions we'll all experience in the days ahead may indeed feel fraught. But don't discount the possibility that on the other side of the door is joy. This month, I'll leave you with the words of Mary Oliver. I hope June is restorative for you. Don't be afraid of its plenty.
Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Around the Web
A Witness to the Human Experience: Why Medicine Needs Storytellers
“After years of treating patients and witnessing medical care close-up, what I chose to write about simply announced itself. I feel like the stories chased me, not the other way around. These stories provided me a way to understand and fully process what I was feeling, not so much as a form of escapism, but rather a way to confront my emotions directly, to dissect what I was thinking and feeling at the time my patients were occupying the space between life and death. Being a transplant doctor gave me that opportunity, to see human behavior in this precarious juncture in people’s lives.”
New Doctors In India Are Starting Off Seeing The Worst. It's Taking A Toll
“For interns in India — entering their profession during such a heightened crisis — the unprecedented demand for doctors and number of deaths is taking an emotional toll.”
After the Pandemic: Will Emergency Medicine Ever Be the Same?
“More than anything, we need engagement. The solution to burnout in healthcare isn't holding Zoom yoga classes or, God forbid, mandatory webinars on wellness. We need systems-based change.”
Where to Find Me
Here are a few of the lectures I’ll be giving in the upcoming month:
International Conference of Emergency Medicine (ICEM21)
Virtual presentation to United Arab Emirates
Bringing Emergency Medicine Together
June 10, 2021
Continuing Education, Inc./University at Sea™
Emergency Medicine and Professional Development
Celebrity Millennium from St. Martin
June 19-26, 2021
Northwest Anesthesia Seminars / Northwest Seminars
Topics in Emergency Medicine
Co-presenting with Drs. Rene Mack, Ayanna Walker
Orlando, Florida
June 28-July 1, 2021
Congratulations, Clare!
At the end of May, my youngest daughter Clare graduated summa cum laude from Endicott College with a degree in sports management. In addition to being the captain of the school’s tennis team, which she led to victory at the CCC Championship, Clare had the highest GPA in her major and was on the Dean’s List every semester of her collegiate career. I’m so proud of Clare and can’t wait to see what she does next.
