Regardless of one’s background, this time of year abounds with traditions and the sharing of stories. Some of these are formally written down, others are passed along informally. Regardless, they help anchor us and help define who we are, both to ourselves and those around us. If they are challenged or eliminated, it can be unsettling.
As we go through life, we become part of many families and traditions, some that we choose and others we don’t. The UNMC College of Medicine is a family to which each of you belong. We share our stories, in part, through InterCOM and family traditions – think commencement and the White Coat ceremony.
I went back and reread my InterCOM message from last December. It included the following statement:
“Like the country, for the last year the University of Nebraska, UNMC and the College of Medicine have been going through a time of significant change in leadership that will undoubtedly alter the priorities and way some things have been done in past years.”
At the time, I had no idea these external changes would dwarf whatever impact might have resulted from internal transitions in leadership. Instead, the very pillars that form the bedrock upon which academic medicine and our college have been built over the past century have and are being challenged or eliminated outright.
In part this is because others are telling our story for us, and they are doing so not to produce a textbook of facts and objectivity but rather to create something akin to a historical novel in which the author modifies history and truths as they wish to generate a story that meets their own goals.
I enjoy historical novels, but most include a section in which the author tells the reader where they have altered history or created events that did not happen to make a better story — in contrast to what they have drawn from accurate historical research. That certainly is not what we have seen in some of the narratives brought forward regarding biomedical research and the practice of medicine over the past year.
Where works of historical fiction are often entertaining, reading one does not usually result in decisions that substantially impact others. That is not the case with some of the stories of medical fiction that are being used to undermine well-established medical practice and recommendations, where the health of the country likely will be harmed, and recognition of the U.S. as the leader of advancing human health will be ceded to others.
As we gather for holiday celebrations and share family stories and traditions, let’s also make a commitment to doing a better job of telling UNMC family stories to our community — stories that accurately reflect what we do and the value of the work done by UNMC and our health system partners to improve the health and economic vitality of our community.
There is nothing more impactful than a personal story to change the narrative — something to consider for your New Year’s resolutions.
Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year.