new normal

"New normal"

What does that mean?
I don't know about you, but to me there's nothing "normal" about any of this...

About a year ago I started this blog
Propelled by my own career experiences to write
To share with other physicians
So that they might learn from my success and failures
And be inspired to create a career that is both fulfilling and joyful

I also wanted to help patients who are overwhelmed
By the complexities and inconsistencies in our healthcare system
Preventing them from getting the care they need and want

There were periods of time that I couldn't wait to write
And then other moments when I didn't know what to say

The last few months have been one of those "moments"

I have more time with each patient now
Due to social distancing, sanitation of high contact surfaces and other guidelines
In addition to focusing on my patients' healthcare concerns, the costs of prescription drugs and recommended testing,
I now spend time discussing the pandemic, our nation's political strife...
And how I don't have the answers

What I do know is that the pandemic has forever changed us
Now more than ever we should strive to be innovative, entrepreneurial, flexible, and more humanitarian

And perhaps less polarized...

"New normal"???

How about "better normal"?

and just like that...

Everything changed
For everyone
Everywhere
A tiny virus
Replicating without rules

The unthinkable
Death
Economic recession
No end in sight
New normal

But what better time
To re-engineer our healthcare system?
To grant autonomy and respect back
To the first responders, nurses & doctors who are on the front lines

As they may be the ones saving us all...

a really big wave

Here we are in May 2020
Already...
Where did February through April go?
What happened?!
And why didn't we see this wave coming?
Why weren't we better prepared?

A pandemic wave
World War III
An invisible enemy
Many words and phrases to describe the unthinkable
A never-before-seen virus which has killed 100's of thousands across the globe
Which has crippled economies
And its effects aren't over yet...

What have we learned?
How have our lives changed?
Will we be able to ever return to the way it was before?
And should we return to the way it was before?

I encourage everyone to step back and view this through a wider lens
Not from the spherical bubble from which we live our lives
What positive changes have we made personally, spiritually, professionally?
Which of these changes can we maintain going forward?

The new normal might just be what we all need...

perfect vision

Happy New Year!

Quips are already swirling regarding Barbara Walters' weekly quote "...this is 2020", the weekly television news series many of us grew up with which is still in production today.
I believe the "2020" title is in reference to the analogy of perfect vision, not the calendar year.
But here we are, 1/1/20 & there seems to be an energy fueling the start of this year.
Akin to 2000...Y2K...something "different".

So what does 20/20 vision mean?
According to The American Optometric Association, 20/20 vision refers to someone's visual acuity-the clarity of sharpness of vision measured at a distance of 20 feet. 20/20 vision is a point of reference, not the definition of perfection. For example, if one's vision is determined to be 20/30, that means she can see at 20 feet what others can see at 30 feet.

What is your point of reference for 2020?
Are you comparing your professional goals to what you feel you can reasonably achieve? Or to what you feel is expected of you? Or to what you see happening around you?

Outlining one's goals in a concrete manner can be and should be the starting point to professional success.
The simple act of defining one's goals and writing them down will organically catapult you to "what's next".

So in these early days of 2020, I encourage you to step back from the chaos of life and write down some simple, actionable professional goals.

Clarity.
Sharpness.
Vision.

2020...