This information is current as of the date of original publication or update but may have changed by the time you read this. Do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Before making health decisions, discuss with a qualified healthcare professional.
I received my first COVID-19 vaccination on January 6, 2021, a date that is easy to remember for the wrong reason.
(On that day, the United States Capitol was attacked by a crowd, attempting to stop the certification of the 202 Presidential election. The Capitol sustained significant damage and the lives of Congress members and the Vice President were threatened.)
Since then I have received all recommended boosters. And I have never had COVID-19, even when my husband had it. He had been fully vaccinated and had a mild case.
Information and misinformation
There has been much of both in the past year, some deliberate, some well intentioned, some valuable, some just plain wrong. Whenever possible, get your information directly from the source, not “a friend of a friend’s second cousin”. Here are some tips for finding reliable information
The post emphasizes the importance of responsible social media usage by highlighting various resources and strategies to combat misinformation. It discusses how emotional responses can be manipulated by disinformation and urges readers to critically evaluate content before sharing. We all have a responsibility to research claims and ensure truthfulness online.
Exploring the HEART of health
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Doctors’ Day 2020 was somber for not only U.S. doctors, but for physicians all over the world. This year we are approaching the end of the biggest medical foe any of us have ever faced- the novel coronavirus pandemic
National Doctors’ Day
Did you know there is a national day to honor physicians? In 1990, the U.S. Congress established National Doctors’ Day, first celebrated on March 30, 1991.
The first Doctors’ Day observance was March 30, 1933, in Winder, Georgia. The idea came from a doctor’s wife, Eudora Brown Almond, and the date was the anniversary of the first use of general anesthetic in surgery.
Doctors’ Day 2020
Doctors’ Day 2020 was somber for not only U.S. doctors, but for physicians all over the world. Many of our offices were closed, or offering only virtual medicine.
Hospitals cancelled elective procedures. Emergency rooms enacted strict measures in order to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients while protecting other patients.
After several weeks of fairly strict “lockdowns”, restrictions in multiple states were loosened leading to first gradual then rapid surges in cases, many severe enough to require hospital and ICU admission. And with increased infections, came increased deaths.
used with permission, CDC.GOV
2021
The new year brought a post-holiday reprieve, as both cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are steadily decreasing in most parts of the United States. This year we are finally optimistic than the worst is over, that we will see the end of the toughest medical foe any of us have ever faced- the novel coronavirus pandemic.
I can’t recognize all the physicians who have labored and sacrificed to prevent and treat COVID-19 infections. This is just a small sampling of ones who made the news; most of them didn’t but their role was no less vital
Paul Lynch,M.D. anesthesia/pain management
Dr. Lynch, a pain management specialist, travelled to New York City early in the pandemic to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients. He caught COVID-19, but after a severe illness, recovered, and returned home to Arizona.
Here is one of several videos he posed to his YouTube channel.
In March of 2019, the Covid-19 Pandemic hit NYC and its’ hospital system like a typhoon. I trained at Bellevue from 2003-2006 in the Anesthesiology department where among other things we managed the ICU. I made the decision to return and help during this crisis.
Rebecca Shadowen, M.D., Infectious Disease
In her community, Dr. Shadowen was an advocate for public health measures which were not always well received. She died after contracting a severe COVID-19 infection, having continued her advocacy even from her hospital bed.
Rosalind Mitchell, m.d. , Emergency medicine
Dr. Mitchell’s sister, Dr. Debby Mitchell Burton, a blogger, honored her sister with this Facebook post. Roz, as her family and friends called her, died of COVID-19 complications in January 2021.
photo compliments American Academy of Family Physicians
Melissa Welby, M.D., psychiatrist
With her psychiatric experience, Dr. Welby offered practical advice about managing the stress of the pandemic, especially in the early days when it was all so new and unknown. Such as this post-
How to stay positive during quarantine
Despite the limitations that come with stay-at-home orders, the range of possibilities for entertaining and enjoyable distractions are vast. Although life balance is always important, it is now essential in order to maintain our mental health during and after the pandemic. Let’s have some fun while trying to stay positive during quarantine.
Dr. Melissa Welby
the Doctors Kudji
This mother-daughter duo made history by graduating from medical school and starting residencies at the same time.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, M.D.
Football player and physician don’t usually go together in the same sentence, but for Dr. Duvernay-Tardif they do.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif refused to choose between earning his MD and playing in the NFL. Today, he’s the first active player who’s also a doctor. At this link you can
“At first I wanted to be an engineer, but after talking with some engineers, I realized there is a lot of computer work, and while I’m a man of science, at the same time I need that human interaction with people,
Medicine is one of the only professions where you get to master the science of things — anatomy, pharmacology, kinesiology — but you also have to interact and communicate with patients from many different cultural and economic backgrounds, and you really have to take into account the social context of each patient in order to come up with the best treatment options.”
Dr. Duvernay-Tardif
your physicians
The most important doctors for you to honor are the ones who helps you, your family, and your community with their health care needs. One way you can honor them is to join them in “sharing the HEART of health” where you live. Some ways you can do this (and you probably already are) include
donating to or volunteering at a local food bank
assisting with meal delivery to homebound persons
fostering and adopting children
tutoring students
donating to scholarship funds
teaching and coaching sports and other physical activities
supporting shelters for homeless people
helping people effected by natural disasters
Use the comments to tell us what you do and share the impact it has made in the lives of the people who are helped.
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exploring the HEARTS of physicians
I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.
I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.
Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.
I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.
Dr. Aletha
Use these links to share the heart of health wherever you connect.
watercress words by Dr Aletha 