Let me begin by thanking those of you who were caring for patients over the holidays. Thank you.
As we begin the year 2024, I know you, like me, are hoping for a more peaceful and promising year than the last. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem likely. For those of you with family and close friends in war-torn countries or dealing with the aftermath of climate change disasters – earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and drought – this is likely to be another challenging year. For us in health care, it is also challenging – high demands for care with insufficient resources to do the job we signed up to do. I know, this is a bleak beginning for a Chair’s Column! But beginning with a cheerful Happy New Year seems somehow inappropriate, if not insensitive.
He talked about the importance of retaining a sense of wonder as we go through our lives. To quote, “If I can give you one piece of grandfatherly advice, don’t lose your sense of wonder…People are capable of achieving the most incredible things.” He goes on to state that, “Thanks in part to the ingenuity of science, the world just came through a terrible pandemic. Humankind is vanquishing some of its greatest scourges, from famine to illiteracy to water-borne disease… In the year I was born, the average person entering this world could not expect to live beyond the age of 50. Now the average life expectancy is around 73 years – higher in lucky countries like ours.”
I realized that it is this sense of wonder that keeps me going as an academic physician – and, I assume, most of you as well. Our drive to understand and make better is what defines us.
Over the last several weeks, I have been writing my Chair’s letters to the Decanal Committee for the 55 - yes, 55 faculty members we are sending forward for consideration for senior promotion. Every year, as I write these letters, I get emotional. Why? Because of the truly remarkable achievements of our faculty members. To know that we are part of this engine of learning and discovery is a wonderful feeling. The science and innovation, teaching and educational creativity are world-class, and the leadership roles our faculty play globally is inspiring. But what I really love the most about reading your promotion dossiers and in synthesizing my letters is the pleasure of reading the Student Testimonials. If I could, I would share these with you because they let you know that you have made a mark – paid it forward, changed the lives of those you’ve taught, mentored and supervised for the better.
Gee closes his article with the following, which says it better than I could: “Fight back. Keep your eyes and ears open. Watch the world pass by. Listen to the cardinal’s song outside the window. Watch the squirrels tumble through the branches. Don’t ever stop being amazed. For all its troubles and strife, it is still a wonderful world.”
2024 will undoubtedly be challenging for many reasons. It will be that much better if we sustain our sense of wonder. We are fortunate to be surrounded by an unbelievably talented group of awe-inspiring and wondrous people.
