Category: Appreciation

Last Friday, one of our awesome female physicians came to see me. She is leaving and wanted me to know that while she has practiced for 24 years, I was the first CEO to say thank you face to face. While every day is an opportunity to say thank you, February is the month that we honor our women who have chosen the field of medicine. Below is the letter I wrote to our women physicians in Bakersfield.

“As we honor and celebrate National Women Physicians Day, I wanted to acknowledge your leadership and commitment to our hospital, clinics, outpatient clinics and especially to our patients.

In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the United States’ first licensed female physician after having been famously allowed to attend medical school as a joke. My, how times have changed!

Today, because of women like you, girls see BRILLIANT examples of intelligence, compassion and courage. Your positive influence shows our daughters, granddaughters and all women that they, too, can enter the science fields – whether that is in direct patient care, medical research or anything else that inspires them.

You also offer a special bond with patients, who often specifically seek out a female physician because they feel more comfortable in your care. Imagine the powerful impact you have on people receiving medical treatment who may not otherwise have followed through on a screening, procedure or other therapy.

Our mission at Adventist Health Bakersfield is: “Living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope.” In that spirit, I thank you for the inspiration that you provide and celebrate your success. I am honored that you have chosen to care for patients with our organization.”

There is no leadership without people. There is no business with out people. So, let’s agree to say more thank-you’s and to do so face to face!

In the healthcare world, May is our season for celebrating – Nurses Week is May 6-12, followed directly by Hospital Week. Yet, I realize that this is also National Teacher Appreciation Week and the month when so many teachers, students and their families would be enjoying those many year-end activities such as award ceremonies, concerts, classroom parties and graduations. How much this COVID-19 crisis has changed for all of us in 2020 …

At Adventist Health Bakersfield, I’m happy to report that we have chosen to move forward with our celebrations, although they will look much different than in past years. It is my prayer that your school celebrations will return, in some form, soon as well. But, until then, I wanted to take this occasion of National Teacher Appreciation Week and acknowledge your contributions during this unprecedented time in history.

I know how much you must miss the personal interaction with your students, but I also know that your commitment to finding solutions that still meet their educational needs is yet another example of your devotion. You may not be teaching in your classroom, but you are teaching life lessons that will positively impact the children in our community for years to come. You are showing them what it means to care, that even when the world turns upside down – we still work toward our goals.

After all, if not for the dedication, commitment and positive influence of the teachers in our lives, we would not be able to fulfill our organization’s mission to provide health, wholeness and hope.

Each of our employees at Adventist Health Bakersfield – whether they have followed a career path that led to direct patient care or taken another, non-clinical role within our organization – owes a tremendous debt to the teachers in their lives.

Simply put: Your work inspires ours.

So, as we all find ways to find the joys and celebrations in this “new normal” of ours, please know that we appreciate our teachers and we thank you for your service to this community. As much as this world has changed, due to COVID-19, please know that my hopes, prayers and gratefulness for your great work remain the same – Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!