I work in what – in the business – is referred to as “graduate medical education” which, for you ley people, is “medicine”. Specifically, I am an admin for a medical residency program. I work with a lot of REALLY, REALLY smart people. I just started this job a few months ago and, instantly, I was enamored with my co-workers. For the most part, everyone has a medical degree but there are a handful of PhD’s. It can be intimidating at times – “what the hell have I been doing with MY life? These people are SAVING people and solving real big, REAL world problems on the daily!!” – but it’s incredibly stimulating intellectually, and – in good ways and bad – emotionally: I have lost count of the number of code blues that have been called as an example. My sensitive, empathic, social-worker heart has a terrible time righting itself knowing that somewhere, very close to me, someone is struggling to breath.
My amazing, incredible, simple-words-could-NEVER-do-her-justice, boss, pulled me into her office about three weeks ago to tearfully let me know that she had decided to take an amazing job opportunity and that she would be leaving on July 1st. Ever since that day, I have felt increasingly anxious and dreadful about work. It’s not that I don’t enjoy my other co-workers, I do, I REALLY do, it’s just that Sarah is “Mom”. She takes care of everyone, she sets the tone, she gets shit done, she sees the big picture, she knows what needs to happen LIGHT years before any of us have a clue, she’s cool, comforting and direct. She sees potential in people when they can’t see it in themselves and she gets the absolute best out of our team. She’s an effortless leader. FULL STOP.
For three weeks, I’ve been slogging along, trying to be upbeat, seeking a positive spin on life “AS” (after Sarah). I WANTED to be excited for Sarah and her AMAZING new opportunity and I AM excited for her. Mostly, I’m excited for all the good that she’ll do on an even bigger scale. After spending more than a week, alone in my bed with Covid, missing out on the precious time I have left to soak up Sarah’s experience and knowledge, I was STRUGGLING to stay positive . . . UNTIL: Today:-)
Today, I met the newest class of medical interns! They are INCREDIBLE!! This group of highly intelligent, interesting, committed, experienced physicians have moved to Kalamazoo from all over the WORLD to take care of our community and to soak up all that they can from my amazing co-workers and many other talented faculty, staff and medical professionals in our area. They are fun, they are excited, they are vulnerable, curious, interested and interesting. I am tired, it’s been QUITE a month!! . . . Personally, professionally, globally and politically. BUT I’m looking forward to tomorrow and , more importantly, I am excited about my job again:-)
Collecting Pieces of Me 