Her Hospital is Now my School - A poem

From the 11/13/2020 newsletter

Her Hospital is Now my School

Sarah Steffen

September comes to a close, and October creeps in.

My body feels it before I even realize it.

Exhaustion.

Grief rising to the surface.

I drive to school in the same direction.

In the same dark dreariness.

Rainy and cold. Bone-chilling.

Just as it was when we bundled up in her room watching the rain come down.

Sitting vigil. Keeping watch throughout the night.

Waiting.

Waiting for an end that was coming.

Now on breaks we stroll through the hospital.

So casually.

So loudly.

Almost too joyfully.

As if it’s forgotten that this is still a hospital and not just our school.

Past the surgical waiting room, where families hold their breath.

Past the cafeteria where my family spent so much time.

Waiting. Resting. Breathing.

I see her room from here and am transported back in time.

I can’t be here. Not this week. Not this time of year.

It’s too tangible.

Too real.

Every day I walk into school,

into the same building.

The same building where my grandmother worked for so many years

to take care of and welcome new, little babies into the world.

And it was here.

Here in the place where she loved to work so much

that she took her last breath.

I am distinctly aware of this.

Every day.

But especially this day.

Her hospital is now my school.

My home too.

And in my heart, I know

this is just how she would want it to be.

Sarah Steffen is a medical student in the MCW-Central Wisconsin Class of 2022. 

Veteran’s Day Reflections as a Service Member and Medical Student

 From the 11/13/2020 newsletter

Student perspective/opinion

  

Veteran’s Day Reflections as a Service Member and Medical Student

 

 

Corey McKenzie – MCW-Milwaukee medical student and Ensign in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy.

  

Mr. McKenzie reminds us of the sacrifice and the commitment to service expected by service members. He also points out the parallels between military and medical service ...

 

 

Many emotions and thoughts flood my conscience when I think about Veterans Day. Why? I am a service member; I have many service members (retired and still serving) in my immediate social circle and family. I know veterans who never made it home. I know veterans who made it home, only to meet their maker while fighting the continued conflict in their mind. 

 

The best way for me to describe all of my emotions and thoughts surrounding Veteran’s Day is to tell you about my in-laws – two people that gave more for this country than most can fathom, but who would never take the limelight or sing their own praises. As you will find, most veterans are humble about their service. Almost all of them will tell you, “I miss it.” My father-in-law is certainly of this opinion.

 

Imagine a trajectory where all who join – no matter their ethnicity, culture, economic background, gender, history – are melded together, trained on a level field, and prepared for a future determined by one metric – and one metric only – Service. That’s the “military way.” If you sign the dotted line, you’re welcomed into a group that will forever have your back and forever demand the most of your character. My father-in-law joined this group and served for twenty-one years. He retired at the second highest rank of an enlisted sailor. For twenty-one years, he sacrificed his freedoms for ours.

 

 My mother-in-law also sacrificed. During deployments, imagine going through birthdays, graduations, holidays, weddings, funerals, and every life event by yourself with six kids and on a tiny budget. Most enlisted sailors live near the poverty line and are eligible for WIC and food stamps. When sailors deploy, the budget is cut in two, financial straps pull more tightly, and both adults must have enough money to live on.

 

Very few people understand this true sacrifice. Here’s the most fantastic part: Veterans don’t need you to. Their service is their burden to bear alone and they never ask other people to share. Heroes walk amongst us. 

 

Veteran’s Day fills me with pride and gratitude. As Americans, we are so lucky. We rarely must contemplate our freedoms. But, when we do, and if there are grounds to get better, we have the freedom to voice our concerns. Daily, the quality of life of every American is challenged. Our society questions the fairness of everything. We live in a country where social justice movements are possible. This is a freedom made possible by those who protect our rights. Not everyone agrees with one another, but we live in a country where we get to have the conversation. Our military members make these conversations and social changes possible. 

To use a metaphor, if the USA is a house and the people who live in it need to either remodel or tear it down to build something better, our service members keep the foundation strong and ready for whatever is next. This is a day where we tip our hats to these silent heroes and preservers of our freedoms. 

 

Veteran’s Day also fills me with disdain and frustration. Our veterans are largely forgotten and not treated with the gratitude they deserve. They signed the dotted line and risked everything. Their healthcare, both mental and physical, is not where it should be after they retire. Twenty-two veterans a day succumb to suicide. I joined the military to pay for medical school, but my eyes have been opened to the health care gaps our military, and especially veterans, receive. I plan to use my education to change this. I can think of no population I would rather serve than those that served so selflessly. Honor, courage, and commitment are military ideals, but don’t they also apply to medicine, as well?

 

 

Interestingly, there are many parallels between military service and medical service. We both give up large parts of our lives in the service of others. We are constantly volunteering to care for others’ needs before our own. Our society, by in large, is more stable and free because of our service. We each have alarming suicide rates, and we struggle – Boy, oh boy! Do we struggle! – to face that reality. Neither group requires praise. Each strives to hone its craft and make processes better. Probably most important, both are vital threads in the fabric of society. Even if the idea of military service is completely foreign to you as a medical professional, I hope you can see how similar and relatable your own life can be to military service. My hope is that someone reading this might change the way they think about our veterans and their sacrifice.

 

 

This Veteran’s Day, I hope each of us takes a moment to feel the weight of the sacrifice our veterans gave. If you know a veteran, reach out to them. While they will not expect praise, their day may be just a bit brighter by a simple, “Thanks.” Don’t worry about what you say; if it comes from the heart, it will be well received. Most are warriors on the outside and big teddy bears on the inside. Never forget, they serve for you! I leave you with the first article of the Code of Conduct. Hooyah!

 

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

 

 

 

 Corey McKenzie is a member of the Class of 2023 on the MCW-Milwaukee campus. 

 

The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US Navy, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.

 

 

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. 

 

Associate Editor: Anna Visser

Meaningful Careers in the VA

 From the 11/13/2020 newsletter

Perspective
 
 
Meaningful Careers in the VA
 
 
Kayt Havens, MD
 
 
Dr. Havens describes the myriad, rewarding career opportunities the VA has to offer …
 
 

Twelve years ago, I received a call from Dr. Ann Nattinger asking if I would accept a position at the Zablocki VAMC as Director of the Women's Clinic.  I am grateful every day that I said, “Yes.”  My work there powerfully influenced my identity as an educator-physician and design learner. When I told colleagues and friends that I worked at the VA, their faces often registered disbelief. Little did they know that the VA has the history of being the most innovative health care system in this country. 
 
Last week we celebrated Veterans Day. I am taking this opportunity to also honor the physicians and care teams who have committed some or all of their lives to the improvement of health care for veterans. I've asked some of our MCW Zablocki VAMC faculty why they chose to work in the VA. I'm including some of their comments below.
 
Dr. Jerome VanRuiswyk says, “I do consider it a privilege to care for all types of veterans. Many veterans paid the ultimate price for freedom and didn't return; the rest were willing to pay that price and, you and I have the privilege to serve them. Other things that have drawn me to a career at the VA is the fact that the vast majority of veterans are truly grateful for the care they receive. The system focuses on caring for these unique patients no matter their socioeconomic status including their wide range of comorbidities, some which resulted from their service.  Veterans are best served by the VA's multidisciplinary care teams who have a biopsychosocial approach to care.”
 
 Dr. Jeffrey Whittle, who has spent most of his career working throughout VA hospitals wrote, “I think that working in the VA has been a privilege because so many of the employees are mission driven. They truly view the opportunity to serve veterans as an important reason to come to work.”  As patients receive care regardless of their ability to pay has “allowed me to get to know people from across the socioeconomic spectrum on a personal level and has helped me recognize the nobility that is present.” Dr. Whittle also states that “history means more to me now.” He has worked with and taken care of the “ordinary people who have made that history,” having seen prisoners of war, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, veterans of Pearl Harbor, the Omaha Beach landing on D-Day, and the Battle of the Bulge in his practice.  These veterans and those of the Vietnam War and current conflicts have added to his sense of commitment.
 
Dr. Amy Farkas joined our VA two years ago after completing a women’s health fellowship at the Pittsburg VA.  “Caring for veterans is one of the many things I find rewarding.”  There are a host of professional reasons that make a VA career appealing to her. “I’m lucky enough to be involved locally and nationally with the VA.” As faculty, I spend 1/3 of my time developing Women's Health education programming for the national VA where there is this amazing network of women health leaders.  This has been a huge benefit for my career. “The VA also provides great resources for medical education and scholarship including research projects. I have access to immense amounts of data and powerful tools for utilizing it.” 
 
Dr.  Margaret Holmes adds another dimension to her work at the VA. Her grandfather served in the trenches during World War I. Her beloved stepfather was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and her great-great-grandfather fought in the battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. Therefore, her work at the VA has a personal meaning as well.  She notes that she cares for a much sicker, poorer population. She has the “addition of terrific teams including a nurse, LPN and MSA who are all smart and capable.” A dietitian, social worker and pharmacist are also housed in her clinic. She experiences  fewer barriers to care  as “social workers slay the psychosocial dragons enabling us to see the patients more easily and get them access to services which are part of living a healthful life … I never have to say your insurance doesn't cover that and medications are cheap or free for everyone.” Dr. Holmes loves that she has time to do her job properly as there are no RVU’s, she has thirty minutes with each returning patient, sixty minutes for a new patient, and “no one fusses if it takes longer to complete a visit.”  Her collaboration with specialists is easy, and they're attentive to the needs of her patients.
 
For myself, my last five years at the VA included national work with the VA Innovators Network. As such, I traveled to thirty-two VA sites across the country and witnessed firsthand the commitment and dedication of frontline workers including nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, etc. through this network. Over $3,000,000 a year was awarded to frontline employees who identified and solved problems encountered by veterans using human centered design as part of understanding the problem.  3D printing programs were established across these thirty-two hospitals to create everything from a personalized spoon for a stroke victim, to improving a poor prosthesis fit.  A young woman whose leg was blown off in Afghanistan requested a prosthetic so she could wear a high heel for her wedding which was proudly presented to her.  The Minneapolis VA critically created a wheelchair which a user could crank up to a standing position; imagine being able to roll yourself down an airplane aisle. One multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, designer and engineers created a hamburger helper device for two veterans allowing them to eat a full hamburger at Red Robin.  Previously the “claw” would destroy the burger half eaten. These projects were designed with veterans for veterans. I stand proudly with the veterans that my colleagues and I have served and those who have served me. 
 
Students who want to know more can sign up for the Military Academic Enrichment Elective that will be offered in January 2021. Michael Nagy, PharmD and his team of medical and pharmacy students worked with students, faculty and veterans. This will be the third year this class is offered to medical students and represents innovative curriculum development.
Chase LaRue, an MCW-Milwaukee Class of 2023 medical student and member of the US Naval Reserves, shares the following information about the elective: 
 

The military academic enrichment elective provides students a unique opportunity to learn specifically about veteran health care issues and considerations unique to this population. They explore the health care providers role in adapting their care to better suit the needs of those who served. The course consists of a weekly didactic given by lecturers experienced in advocating for veteran wellbeing combined with a portion of the class that allows for group discussion. Topics span a variety of subjects from experiences veteran populations may have faced during service to techniques that medical and pharmacy students may use to better connect with veteran patients. This class helps students develop a strong sense of trust with veterans. 
 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the course will only involve medical students in 2021, but we look forward to continuing more programs in the future. The logistics regarding this year's virtual sign up will be available as we approach January. Given that virtually all MCW Milwaukee medical students will spend at least some portion of their rotations at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, taking the time to understand this perspective and diversity of issues surrounding these patients is important to help us serve there better and maximize the quality of care we are able to provide.
 

 
 
Kathryn (Kayt) Havens, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) at MCW. She is a member of the Culture and Systems Pillar of the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education, bringing expertise in human-centered design methodology.
 
 

What a week for Democracy! Great time for Kern to build community through a new funding opportunity

 From the 11/13/2020 newsletter
Director’s Corner
 
 
What a week for Democracy! Great time for Kern to build community through a new funding opportunity 
 
 
Adina Kalet, MD MPH
 
 

Dr. Kalet reflects on the past week’s events including the launch of the Kern Institute’s Medical Education Transformation Request for Proposals (RFP) and describes the RFP’s intention to stimulate collaboration, cooperation and communication as a way forward… 
 
 
What a week it has been! As expected, the presidential election results took four long days to reach a conclusion. Although frustrating, there was a beauty to watching our electoral system work at human speed, votes counted one at a time all over the country. When our new President-Elect and Vice President-Elect were finally able to make victory speeches on Saturday evening, the reality and symbolism of seeing a woman of color give the acceptance speech moved me to tears. 
 
Nearly half our fellow Americans are disappointed with the election’s outcome. It has never been more important for us to navigate forward gently but courageously, with respect and compassion. 
 
There is no doubt that we face a dramatic next two months. We can anticipate being schooled in the technical intricacies of our government. We will learn what guidance our constitution does and does not provide. In my house, we will read and listen to podcasts, watch news, documentaries and movies, and endlessly discuss the historical precedents for this moment. This will go on, all while we face what could be the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Wisconsin. I do not have any answers, but I do want to consider the questions, together in community. 
 
 
Kern will fund “Collaboratories” that will transform medical education 
 
Into this context, on November 1, 2020, the Kern Institute launched our Medical Education Transformation Collaboratories Request for Proposals (RFP). The explicit purpose of the RFP is to incentivize groups of medical educators and scholars to seek each other out across disciplines, institutions, and other boundaries, to propose policy papers and projects that can contribute to transforming medical education. Letters of Intent are due before our winter holiday season. We have suggested some areas of interest: 

• Best Practices in Medical Education
• Data Science in Education
• Linking Medical Education and Patient Health 
• New Models for Structuring and Funding Medical Education 

 
We will give funding priority to members of the Kern National Network, groups that include patients as partners, and projects that have an explicit focus on evidence-based integration of character and caring in medical education. That said, we are open to all ideas. 
 
Proposals will describe in equal measure, a meaty problem or gap, an audacious idea, and a plan for assembling a small diverse group of partners in the work. We will require a clear and compelling description of the “problem to solve” as well as strong and convincing evidence that the group will work together effectively. This includes showing how the team will organize, communicate, plan, define roles and criteria for accountability and share credit generously.  These are some of the key features of strong “Collaboratories.”  
 
 
What is a Collaboratory?
 
I have been animated by the idea of Collaboratories since being introduced to the concept by a computer science colleague with whom I worked in the early 2000s. First described in the 1980s as a “laboratory without walls,” it was an idea which grew as technology enabled scientists living at great distances to work closely together, sharing techniques and equipment in real time. As we all have learned too well recently, nearly ubiquitous technology makes it is possible to be “socially networked,” yet the technology is necessary but not sufficient for success. Collaboratories are powerful when there is careful attention and lots of trial and error to establish “norms, principles, values, and rules” that enable both the things we have always done (teach, learn, meet, create) and to work together to generate solutions to complex new challenges. The future of medical education is a complex challenge and I believe Collaboratories is a good way forward. 
 
Hopefully, we will have at least a handful, if not a pile, of good proposals to review come January 2021. The money we have saved in Kern this past spring, when travel and sponsored events were cancelled one after another due to COVID-19, will now we put toward funding the Collaboratories. Those who receive funding will be expected to meet together regularly to discuss their work and, in this way, “cross-pollinate” other groups creating a densely intertwined medical education transformation community of practice. Even if can only fund some of the proposals we receive, the process of writing a letter of intent is, in my experience, never wasted. Good ideas, once articulated, are like genies released from their bottles. Magical things may happen. 
 
 
The collision of the COVID-19 spike, fatigue, and opportunity
The unseasonably balmy weather this past week has enabled many of us to manage the tension of the election by being active out-of-doors. In Wisconsin, especially, we could remain in denial, pushing off the inevitable few more months of sheltering at home as daily COVID-19 cases hit all-time highs. The situation with the pandemic is different from what it was in the spring. As our hospital census of COVID-19 patients ratchets up to unprecedented levels, we reap the benefit from what we have learned. We now know how to provide routine medical care safely. Scheduled procedures continue, telehealth has found its groove, our students and faculty are in a virtual routine. 
 
The downsides are also obvious. We are fatigued from mask wearing and yearn to be together physically without constant consciousness of the “social” distance. We will be working from home, forming “pods” with our close friends, and grieving family Thanksgiving dinners, winter vacation travel, and some outdoor sports. School-aged children’s schedules will change weekly, our college-aged children will be taking final exams remotely surrounded by family and not friends. We are exhausted from talking about testing, quarantining, and vaccine distribution plans, and from all the pivoting. An effective vaccine is likely to be implemented in a couple of months. For those of us who have lost loved ones, there is little comfort in this unprecedented scientific wonder. 
 
Now is the time to focus on building hardy communities. Now is the time to collaborate, cooperate and communicate as if our lives, work and future depends on it. At Kern, even as we live through upheaval, we look forward to being a catalyst for transforming medical education. 
 
 
Adina Kalet, MD MPH is the Director of the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education and holder of the Stephen and Shelagh Roell Endowed Chair at the Medical College of Wisconsin