Stepping Up Again

I am sharing this week’s VC Notes today because I feel a sense of urgency.

We are tired and we are weary.  We are stressed and concerned.  All of us are experiencing unease and anxiety related to COVID-19 and the associated fundamental life changes as well as the uncertainty of the future impact of this virus. 

The unease is exacerbated by the economic stressors we are facing.  Then last week, the tragic killing of George Floyd left us feeling outraged, helpless and deeply saddened. And scared. I am scared for all of us and for our country.  I am a white woman with a 20-year-old son.  He gives me the occasional reason to worry and fret but I don’t have to worry about his basic human rights.  I cannot imagine the fear felt by my fellow black mothers and black fathers and others who may face injustice and/or racism on a regular basis. 

What can we do?  What should we do?  I, alone, can’t affect the world on a grandiose scale – the rioting, the killing, much less the increasingly elusive goal of world peace.  However, in a time of uncertainty, fear and anxiety, we CAN proceed with courage.  And we CAN create an environment of calm and consistency and predictability by doing these things:

• We can use our voices – even when we feel we don’t have the perfect words or even the right to express the way we feel about indignities we might not have experienced ourselves.
• We can show grace and kindness toward each other.
• We can let it be known we will not tolerate racism or injustice.
• We will establish the place and space for open dialogue so that we can better understand and support each other.
• We will ensure our medical center is a safe place for all of us.
• We will listen to those who feel unheard.

Monday, Dr. David Skorton, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, released a powerful statement addressing the death of George Floyd. I recommend it to all of you. 

Now, just as we are STEPPING UP and demonstrating our value in the COVID-19 response, we can STEP UP and show the very best of ourselves.

We are strong.  We are our best and strongest when all voices are heard. We have the expertise to conduct outstanding research and provide state-of-the-art clinical care.  Our educational programs are proud and vibrant and produce excellent scientists and health care professionals.  We also have the heart, empathy and power to be our best compassionate and humanistic selves.

We will continue to set the bar high for excellent care, performance and innovation during the pandemic.  We will set the bar high for ending health disparities driven largely by the social determinants of health.  Now, let’s also commit to set the bar high as it pertains to humanism and our fellow man. 

Someone shared with me a famous quotation by C.S. Lewis: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

In our own space, let’s change what we can and face the challenges with undeterred courage, determination and gentleness for each other, for humankind, and especially, in this moment and forever after, for our black brothers and sisters.