Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, my heart was with my physician colleagues, nurses, and every medical professional and first responder providing care during this global crisis. From the start, I sought ways to serve them by contacting legislators, state medical organizations, and others to ensure first responders in my area and state had enough personal protective equipment (PPE). I mailed N95 masks and “ear savers” and have reached out to physicians throughout the pandemic with a listening ear and friendship. In this way, I reconnected with friends from residency, local doctors, and some of my family members in medicine.
These were some of the early blessings and silver linings I’ve experienced in the pandemic. And, thankfully, there have been many more, and they all began through service!
Beyond virtual presentations to medical organizations at the state and national level, wellness & leadership workshops, webinars, virtual group coaching, book studies (using Recapturing Joy in Medicine), and serving physicians one-on-one, I felt led to write a column to support physicians as human beings and leaders during the pandemic and beyond.
This led me to start the series I’ve called “A Moment of Wellness,” and I’m grateful the Florida Medical Association (FMA) has been publishing it weekly or every other week since the spring of 2020.
My goal is to stir HOPE in my colleagues, equip them with resources, and empower them to prioritize their safety and wellbeing so they’ll persevere and grow stronger in the midst of this lingering challenge.
Click here to view all posts in this series. I plan to keep adding more until they’re all here, so come back soon! May what you read be like a breath of fresh air that energizes and encourages you to persevere. Thanks for all you do!
