Dear Department of Internal Medicine colleagues:
These are trying times – the headlines are truly alarming:
- Government shutdown, mass furloughs and layoffs, frozen funds and rescinded monies
- Organized assault on institutions of higher education, anti-science movement, anti-public health efforts
- Degradation of free speech and rule of law, and the rise of intolerance and political violence
- Conflicts across the globe
How should we approach these challenging times?
First, although there is a natural impulse to withdraw, focus on our own personal lives and relationships, and hope for the best, I encourage you to stay engaged. You are fully within your rights to express yourself – just stay within the bounds of the rules that govern our UNMC employee status and be aware of these guidelines. Second, if you feel the need for mental health support, please reach out via these confidential pathways: UNMC Employee Assistance Program or Nebraska Medicine Support Resources. Third, it is good to periodically unwind, unplug, and get away from the 24-hour news cycle and social media. I personally find solace in observing nature – even if only in my backyard garden. You may find the same rejuvenation from taking a walk, riding a bike, attending your child’s school performance, getting lost in a novel – find what helps and take some time to indulge. In these trying times, please approach one another with a bit more grace, humility, and patience.
As the days get shorter and cooler, please appreciate the fall season – the changing foliage, a high school or college football game, trick-or-treat and Halloween decorations, or the neighborhood Octoberfest.
Times will transition and we will persevere.